Regulation of human mrp5-like protein

ABSTRACT

Reagents that regulate human MRP5-like protein and reagents which bind to human MRP5-like protein gene products can play a role in preventing, ameliorating, or correcting dysfunctions or diseases including, but not limited to, cardiovascular disorders, cancer, and CNS disorders.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of and incorporates by reference co-pending U.S. provisional applications Serial No. 60/274,233 filed Mar. 9, 2001 and Serial No. 60/323,334 filed Sep. 20, 2001.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention relates to the area of membrane transport protein regulation. More particularly, it relates to the area of human ABC transporters and their regulation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, also called the “traffic ATPases,” comprise a superfamily of over 100 membrane proteins that mediate transport and channel functions in prokaryotes and eukaryotes (See Higgins, C. F. (1992) Annu. Rev. Cell Biol. 8:67-113, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,858,719 and 6,030,806). ABC transporters share a similar overall structure and significant sequence homology. Typically ABC transporters have four conserved domains, two hydrophobic domains which may impart substrate specificity (Payne et al., Mol. Gen. Genet. 200:493-496, 1985; Foote et al., Nature 345:255-258, 1990; Anderson et al., Science 253:202-205, 1991; Shustik et al., Br. J. Haematol. 79:50-56, 1991; Covitz et al., EMBO J. 13:1752-1759, 1994), and two highly conserved domains associated with ATP binding and hydrolysis (Higgins, supra). ABC transporters govern unidirectional transport of molecules into or out of cells and across subcellular membranes (Higgins, supra). Their substrates range from heavy metals (Ouellette et al., Res. Microbiol. 142:737-746 1991) to peptides and full size proteins (Gartner et al., Nature Genet. 1:16-23 1992).

[0004] Eukaryotic ABC transporter proteins include: P-glycoproteins, also known as multidrug resistance (MDR) proteins, which are associated with resistance to a wide range of hydrophobic drugs (MDR1; Gottesman, M. M. & Pastan, I. (1993) Annu. Rev. Biochem. 62:385-427) or with phosphatidylcholine transport (MDR2; Ruetz, S. & Gros, P. (1994) Cell 77:1071-1081); CFTR, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (Welsh, M. J. & Smith, A. E. (1993) Cell 73:1251-1254); TAP proteins, the transporters associated with antigen processing in mammalian cells (Androlewicz, M. J. et al. (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:12716-12720); cMOAT/cMRP1, which is associated with transport of glutathione, glucuronide, and sulfate conjugates across the canalicular membrane (Buchler, M. et al. (1996) J. Biol. Chem. 271:15091-15098); and STE6, which exports the a-factor mating pheromone of S. cerevisiae (Michaelis, S. (1993) Semin. Cell Biol. 4:17-27). Prokaryotic ABC proteins include periplasmic nutrient permeases, such as those responsible for uptake of maltose (MalFGK) and histidine (HisMPQ) in gram-negative bacteria, and toxin exporters such as those required for export of hemolysin (HlyB) and colicin (ColV) from E. coli (Higgins, supra). See U.S. Pat. No. 5,858,719. Because of the important biological effects of ABC transporters, there is a need in the art to identify additional members of the ABC transporter family whose activity can be regulated to provide therapeutic effects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the invention to provide reagents and methods of regulating a human MRP5-like protein. This and other objects of the invention are provided by one or more of the embodiments described below.

[0006] One embodiment of the invention is a MRP5-like protein polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

[0007] amino acid sequences which are at least about 41% identical to the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2; and

[0008] the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2.

[0009] Yet another embodiment of the invention is a method of screening for agents which decrease extracellular matrix degradation. A test compound is contacted with a MRP5-like protein polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

[0010] amino acid sequences which are at least about 41% identical to the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2; and

[0011] the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2

[0012] Binding between the test compound and the MRP5-like protein polypeptide is detected. A test compound which binds to the MRP5-like protein polypeptide is thereby identified as a potential agent for decreasing extracellular matrix degradation. The agent can work by decreasing the activity of the MRP5-like protein.

[0013] Another embodiment of the invention is a method of screening for agents which decrease extracellular matrix degradation. A test compound is contacted with a polynucleotide encoding a MRP5-like protein polypeptide, wherein the polynucleotide comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:

[0014] nucleotide sequences which are at least about 50% identical to the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1; and

[0015] the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1

[0016] Binding of the test compound to the polynucleotide is detected. A test compound which binds to the polynucleotide is identified as a potential agent for decreasing extracellular matrix degradation. The agent can work by decreasing the amount of the MRP5-like protein through interacting with the MRP5-like protein mRNA.

[0017] Another embodiment of the invention is a method of screening for agents which regulate extracellular matrix degradation. A test compound is contacted with a MRP5-like protein polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

[0018] amino acid sequences which are at least about 41% identical to the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2;

[0019] the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2

[0020] A MRP5-like protein activity of the polypeptide is detected. A test compound which increases MRP5-like protein activity of the polypeptide relative to MRP5-like protein activity in the absence of the test compound is thereby identified as a potential agent for increasing extracellular matrix degradation. A test compound which decreases MRP5-like protein activity of the polypeptide relative to MRP5-like protein activity in the absence of the test compound is thereby identified as a potential agent for decreasing extracellular matrix degradation.

[0021] Even another embodiment of the invention is a method of screening for agents which decrease extracellular matrix degradation. A test compound is contacted with a MRP5-like protein product of a polynucleotide which comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:

[0022] nucleotide sequences which are at least about 50% identical to the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1; and

[0023] the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1

[0024] Binding of the test compound to the MRP5-like protein product is detected. A test compound which binds to the MRP5-like protein product is thereby identified as a potential agent for decreasing extracellular matrix degradation.

[0025] Still another embodiment of the invention is a method of reducing extracellular matrix degradation. A cell is contacted with a reagent which specifically binds to a polynucleotide encoding a MRP5-like protein polypeptide or the product encoded by the polynucleotide, wherein the polynucleotide comprises a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:

[0026] nucleotide sequences which are at least about 50% identical to the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1; and

[0027] the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1.

[0028] MRP5-like protein activity in the cell is thereby decreased.

[0029] The invention thus provides a human MRP5-like protein that can be used to identify test compounds that may act, for example, as activators or inhibitors of the protein's activity. Human MRP5-like protein and fragments thereof also are useful in raising specific antibodies that can block the protein and effectively reduce its activity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030]FIG. 1 shows the DNA-sequence encoding a MRP5-like protein Polypeptide (SEQ ID NO: 1).

[0031]FIG. 2 shows the amino acid sequence deduced from the DNA-sequence of FIG. 1 (SEQ ID NO: 2).

[0032]FIG. 3 shows the amino acid sequence of the protein identified by swissnew|Q9QYM0|MRP5_RAT (SEQ ID NO: 3).

[0033]FIG. 4 shows the DNA-sequence encoding a MRP5-like protein Polypeptide (SEQ ID NO: 4).

[0034]FIG. 5 shows the DNA-sequence encoding a MRP5-like protein Polypeptide (SEQ ID NO: 5).

[0035]FIG. 6 shows the DNA-sequence encoding a MRP5-like protein Polypeptide (SEQ ID NO: 6).

[0036]FIG. 7 shows the BLASTP—alignment of LBRI_(—)312_protein (SEQ ID NO: 2) against swissnew|Q9QYM0|MRP5_RAT (SEQ ID NO: 3).

[0037]FIG. 8 shows the HMMPFAM—alignment of LBRI_(—)312_protein (SEQ ID NO: 2) against pfam|hmm|ABC_tran ABC transporter.

[0038]FIG. 9 shows the HMMPFAM—alignment of LBRI_(—)312_protein (SEQ ID NO: 2) against pfam|hmm|ABC_tran ABC transporter.

[0039]FIG. 10 shows the Intron/exon boundaries.

[0040]FIG. 11 shows the Expression profiling of MRP5-like protein

[0041]FIG. 12 shows the Expression profiling of MRP5-like protein

[0042]FIG. 13 shows the Expression profiling of MRP5-like protein

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] The invention relates to an isolated polynucleotide from the group consisting of:

[0044] a) a polynucleotide encoding a heparanase-like enzyme polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of:

[0045] amino acid sequences which are at least about 41% identical to the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2; and

[0046] the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2

[0047] b) a polynucleotide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1;

[0048] c) a polynucleotide which hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide specified in (a) and (b) and encodes a heparanase-like enzyme polypeptide;

[0049] d) a polynucleotide the sequence of which deviates from the polynucleotide sequences specified in (a) to (c) due to the degeneration of the genetic code and encodes a heparanase-like enzyme polypeptide; and

[0050] e) a polynucleotide which represents a fragment, derivative or allelic variation of a polynucleotide sequence specified in (a) to (d) and encodes a heparanase-like enzyme polypeptide.

[0051] Furthermore, it has been discovered by the present applicant that a novel MRP5-like protein, particularly a human MRP5-like protein, can be used in therapeutic methods to treat a cardiovascular disorder, cancer or a CNS disorder.

[0052] Human MRP5-like protein comprises the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2. A coding sequence for human MRP5-like protein is shown in SEQ ID NO: 1. This sequence is located on chromosome 16. Related ESTs (SEQ ID NOS: 4-6) are expressed in mammary gland, colon, and adenocarcinoma.

[0053] Human MRP5-like protein is 40% identical over 1343 amino acids to swissnew|Q9QYM0|MRP5_RAT (SEQ ID NO: 3) (FIG. 1). BLOCKS, HMMPFAM, and Prosite searches identified the ABC transporter region signature domains in SEQ ID NO: 2. Additionally, HMMPFAM and Prosite identified ATP-binding domains, which are found in ABC transporters.

[0054] Human MRP5-like protein of the invention is expected to be useful for the same purposes as previously identified multidrug resistance proteins. Human MRP5-like protein is believed to be useful in therapeutic methods to treat disorders such as cardiovascular disorders, cancer, and CNS disorders. Human MRP5-like protein also can be used to screen for human MRP5-like protein activators and inhibitors.

[0055] Polypeptides

[0056] Human MRP5-like protein polypeptides according to the invention comprise at least 6, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 275, 300, 325, 350, 375, 400, 425, 450, 475, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, or 1345 contiguous amino acids selected from the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 or a biologically active variant thereof, as defined below. An MRP5-like polypeptide of the invention therefore can be a portion of an MRP5-like protein, a full-length MRP5-like protein, or a fusion protein comprising all or a portion of an MRP5-like protein.

[0057] Biologically Active Variants

[0058] Human MRP5-like protein polypeptide variants that are biologically active, e.g., retain the ability to export toxins, therapeutic agents, or metabolic compounds such as cGMP, also are MRP5-like protein polypeptides. Preferably, naturally or non-naturally occurring MRP5-like protein polypeptide variants have amino acid sequences which are at least about 41, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, or 70, preferably about 75, 80, 85, 90, 96, 96, 98, or 99% identical to the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 or a fragment thereof. Percent identity between a putative MRP5-like protein polypeptide variant and an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 is determined by conventional methods. See, for example, Altschul et al., Bull. Math. Bio. 48:603 (1986), and Henikoff and Henikoff, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915 (1992). Briefly, two amino acid sequences are aligned to optimize the alignment scores using a gap opening penalty of 10, a gap extension penalty of 1, and the “BLOSUM62” scoring matrix of Henikoff and Henikoff (ibid.). Those skilled in the art appreciate that there are many established algorithms available to align two amino acid sequences. The “FASTA”similarity search algorithm of Pearson and Lipman is a suitable protein alignment method for examining the level of identity shared by an amino acid sequence disclosed herein and the amino acid sequence of a putative variant. The FASTA algorithm is described y Pearson and Lipman, Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444(1988), and by Pearson, Meth. Enzymol. 183:63 (1990). Briefly, FASTA first characterizes sequence similarity by identifying regions shared by the query sequence (e.g. SEQ ID NO: 2) and a test sequence that have either the highest density of identities (if the ktup variable is 1) or pairs of identities (if ktup=2), without considering conservative amino acid substitutions, insertions, or deletions. The ten regions with the highest density of identities are then rescored by comparing the similarity of all paired amino acids using an amino acid substitution matrix, and the ends of the regions are “trimmed” to include only those residues that contribute to the highest score. If there are several regions with scores greater than the “cutoff” value (calculated by a predetermined formula based upon the length of the sequence and the ktup value), then the trimmed initial regions are examined to determine whether the regions can be joined to for man approximate alignment with gaps.

[0059] Finally, the highest scoring regions of the two amino acid sequences are aligned using a modification of the Needleman-Wunsch-Sellers algorithm (Needleman and Wunsch, J. Mol. Biol.48:444 (1970); Sellers, SIAM J. Appl. Math. 26:787 (1974)), which allows for amino acid insertions and deletions. Preferred parameters for FASTA analysis are: ktup=1, gapopeningpenalty=10, gap extension penalty=1, and substitution matrix=BLOSUM62. These parameters can be introduced into a FASTA program by modifying the scoring matrix file (“SMATRIX”), as explained in Appendix 2 of Pearson, Meth. Enzymol. 183:63 (1990). FASTA can also be used to determine the sequence identity of nucleic acid molecules using a ratio as disclosed above. For nucleotide sequence comparisons, the ktup value can range between one to six, preferably from three to six, most preferably three, with other parameters set as default.

[0060] Variations in percent identity can be due, for example, to amino acid substitutions, insertions, or deletions. Amino acid substitutions are defined as one for one amino acid replacements. They are conservative in nature when the substituted amino acid has similar structural and/or chemical properties. Examples of conservative replacements are substitution of a leucine with an isoleucine or valine, an aspartate with a glutamate, or a threonine with a serine.

[0061] Amino acid insertions or deletions are changes to or within an amino acid sequence. They typically fall in the range of about 1 to 5 amino acids. Guidance in determining which amino acid residues can be substituted, inserted, or deleted without abolishing biological or immunological activity of an MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be found using computer programs well known in the art, such as DNASTAR software. Whether an amino acid change results in a biologically active MRP5-like protein polypeptide can readily be determined by assaying for transport activities. For example, transport of therapeutic agents can be assessed, e.g., as described in Wijnholds et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 97, 7476-81, 2000. Transport of cGMP can be assessed, e.g., as described in Jedlitchsky et al., J. Biol. Chem. 275, 30069-74, 2000.

[0062] Fusion Proteins

[0063] Fusion proteins are useful for generating antibodies against MRP5-like protein polypeptide amino acid sequences and for use in various assay systems. For example, fusion proteins can be used to identify proteins that interact with portions of an MRP5-like protein polypeptide. Protein affinity chromatography or library-based assays for protein-protein interactions, such as the yeast two-hybrid or phage display systems, can be used for this purpose. Such methods are well known in the art and also can be used as drug screens.

[0064] AN MRP5-like protein polypeptide fusion protein comprises two polypeptide segments fused together by means of a peptide bond. The first polypeptide segment comprises at least 6, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250, 275, 300, 325, 350, 375, 400, 425, 450, 475, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 1100, 1200, 1300, or 1345 contiguous amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 2 or of a biologically active variant, such as those described above. The first polypeptide segment also can comprise full-length MRP5-like protein

[0065] The second polypeptide segment can be a fill-length protein or a protein fragment. Proteins commonly used in fusion protein construction include β-galactosidase, β-glucuronidase, green fluorescent protein (GFP), autofluorescent proteins, including blue fluorescent protein (BFP), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), luciferase, horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). Additionally, epitope tags are used in fusion protein constructions, including histidine (His) tags, FLAG tags, influenza hemagglutinin (HA) tags, Myc tags, VSV-G tags, and thioredoxin (Trx) tags. Other fusion constructions can include maltose binding protein (MBP), S-tag, Lex a DNA binding domain (DBD) fusions, GAL4 DNA binding domain fusions, and herpes simplex virus (HSV) BP16 protein fusions. A fusion protein also can be engineered to contain a cleavage site located between the MRP5-like protein polypeptide-encoding sequence and the heterologous protein sequence, so that the MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be cleaved and purified away from the heterologous moiety.

[0066] A fusion protein can be synthesized chemically, as is known in the art. Preferably, a fusion protein is produced by covalently linking two polypeptide segments or by standard procedures in the art of molecular biology. Recombinant DNA methods can be used to prepare fusion proteins, for example, by making a DNA construct which comprises coding sequences selected from SEQ ID NO: 1 in proper reading frame with nucleotides encoding the second polypeptide segment and expressing the DNA construct in a host cell, as is known in the art. Many kits for constructing fusion proteins are available from companies such as Promega Corporation (Madison, Wis.), Stratagene (La Jolla, Calif.), CLONTECH (Mountain View, Calif.), Santa Cruz Biotechnology (Santa Cruz, Calif.), MBL International Corporation (MIC; Watertown, Mass.), and Quantum Biotechnologies (Montreal, Canada; 1-888-DNA-KITS).

[0067] Identification of Species Homologs

[0068] Species homologs of human MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be obtained using MRP5-like protein polypeptide polynucleotides (described below) to make suitable probes or primers for screening cDNA expression libraries from other species, such as mice, monkeys, or yeast, identifying cDNAs which encode homologs of MRP5-like protein polypeptide, and expressing the cDNAs as is known in the art.

[0069] Polynucleotides

[0070] AN MRP5-like protein polynucleotide can be single- or double-stranded and comprises a coding sequence or the complement of a coding sequence for an MRP5-like protein polypeptide. A coding sequence for human MRP5-like protein is shown in SEQ ID NO: 1.

[0071] Degenerate nucleotide sequences encoding human MRP5-like protein polypeptides, as well as homologous nucleotide sequences which are at least about 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, preferably about 75, 90, 96, 98, or 99% identical to the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or its complement also are MRP5-like protein polynucleotides. Percent sequence identity between the sequences of two polynucleotides is determined using computer programs such as ALIGN which employ the FASTA algorithm, using an affine gap search with a gap open penalty of −12 and a gap extension penalty of −2. Complementary DNA (cDNA) molecules, species homologs, and variants of MRP5-like protein polynucleotides that encode biologically active MRP5-like protein polypeptides also are MRP5-like protein polynucleotides. Polynucleotide fragments comprising at least 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 20, or 25 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1 or its complement also are MRP5-like protein polynucleotides. These fragments can be used, for example, as hybridization probes or as antisense oligonucleotides.

[0072] Identification of Polynucleotide Variants and Homologs

[0073] Variants and homologs of the MRP5-like protein polynucleotides described above also are MRP5-like protein polynucleotides. Typically, homologous MRP5-like protein polynucleotide sequences can be identified by hybridization of candidate polynucleotides to known MRP5-like protein polynucleotides under stringent conditions, as is known in the art. For example, using the following wash conditions—2×SSC (0.3 M NaCl, 0.03 M sodium citrate, pH 7.0), 0.1% SDS, room temperature twice, 30 minutes each; then 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS, 50° C. once, 30 minutes; then 2×SSC, room temperature twice, 10 minutes each—homologous sequences can be identified which contain at most about 25-30% basepair mismatches. More preferably, homologous nucleic acid strands contain 15-25% basepair mismatches, even more preferably 5-15% basepair mismatches.

[0074] Species homologs of the MRP5-like protein polynucleotides disclosed herein also can be identified by making suitable probes or primers and screening cDNA expression libraries from other species, such as mice, monkeys, or yeast. Human variants of MRP5-like protein polynucleotides can be identified, for example, by screening human cDNA expression libraries. It is well known that the T_(m) of a double-stranded DNA decreases by 1-1.5° C. with every 1% decrease in homology (Bonner et al., J. Mol. Biol. 81, 123 (1973). Variants of human MRP5-like protein polynucleotides or MRP5-like protein polynucleotides of other species can therefore be identified by hybridizing a putative homologous MRP5-like protein polynucleotide with a polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or the complement thereof to form a test hybrid. The melting temperature of the test hybrid is compared with the melting temperature of a hybrid comprising polynucleotides having perfectly complementary nucleotide sequences, and the number or percent of basepair mismatches within the test hybrid is calculated.

[0075] Nucleotide sequences which hybridize to MRP5-like protein polynucleotides or their complements following stringent hybridization and/or wash conditions also are MRP5-like protein polynucleotides. Stringent wash conditions are well known and understood in the art and are disclosed, for example, in Sambrook et al., MOLECULAR CLONING: A LABORATORY MANUAL, 2d ed., 1989, at pages 9.50-9.51.

[0076] Typically, for stringent hybridization conditions a combination of temperature and salt concentration should be chosen that is approximately 12-20° C. below the calculated T_(m) of the hybrid under study. The T_(m) of a hybrid between an MRP5-like protein polynucleotide having a nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1 or the complement thereof and a polynucleotide sequence which is at least about 50, preferably about 75, 90, 96, or 98% identical to one of those nucleotide sequences can be calculated, for example, using the equation of Bolton and McCarthy, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 48, 1390 (1962):

T _(m)=81.5° C.−16.6(log₁₀ [Na ⁺])+0.41(% G+C)−0.63(% formamide)−600/l),

[0077] where l=the length of the hybrid in basepairs.

[0078] Stringent wash conditions include, for example, 4×SSC at 65° C., or 50% formamide, 4×SSC at 42° C., or 0.5×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 65° C. Highly stringent wash conditions include, for example, 0.2×SSC at 65° C.

[0079] Preparation of Polynucleotides

[0080] AN MRP5-like protein polynucleotide can be isolated free of other cellular components such as membrane components, proteins, and lipids. Polynucleotides can be made by a cell and isolated using standard nucleic acid purification techniques, or synthesized using an amplification technique, such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or by using an automatic synthesizer. Methods for isolating polynucleotides are routine and are known in the art. Any such technique for obtaining a polynucleotide can be used to obtain isolated MRP5-like protein polynucleotides. For example, restriction enzymes and probes can be used to isolate polynucleotide fragments, which comprise MRP5-like protein nucleotide sequences. Isolated polynucleotides are in preparations that are free or at least 70, 80, or 90% free of other molecules.

[0081] Human MRP5-like protein cDNA molecules can be made with standard molecular biology techniques, using MRP5-like protein mRNA as a template. Human MRP5-like protein cDNA molecules can thereafter be replicated using molecular biology techniques known in the art and disclosed in manuals such as Sambrook et al. (1989). An amplification technique, such as PCR, can be used to obtain additional copies of polynucleotides of the invention, using either human genomic DNA or cDNA as a template.

[0082] Alternatively, synthetic chemistry techniques can be used to synthesize MRP5-like protein polynucleotides. The degeneracy of the genetic code allows alternate nucleotide sequences to be synthesized which will encode an MRP5-like protein polypeptide having, for example, an amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 or a biologically active variant thereof.

[0083] Extending Polynucleotides

[0084] Various PCR-based methods can be used to extend the nucleic acid sequences disclosed herein to detect upstream sequences such as promoters and regulatory elements. For example, restriction-site PCR uses universal primers to retrieve unknown sequence adjacent to a known locus (Sarkar, PCR Methods Applic. 2, 318-322, 1993). Genomic DNA is first amplified in the presence of a primer to a linker sequence and a primer specific to the known region. The amplified sequences are then subjected to a second round of PCR with the same linker primer and another specific primer internal to the first one. Products of each round of PCR are transcribed with an appropriate RNA polymerase and sequenced using reverse transcriptase.

[0085] Inverse PCR also can be used to amplify or extend sequences using divergent primers based on a known region (Triglia et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 16, 8186, 1988). Primers can be designed using commercially available software, such as OLIGO 4.06 Primer Analysis software (National Biosciences Inc., Plymouth, Minn.), to be 22-30 nucleotides in length, to have a GC content of 50% or more, and to anneal to the target sequence at temperatures about 68-72° C. The method uses several restriction enzymes to generate a suitable fragment in the known region of a gene. The fragment is then circularized by intramolecular ligation and used as a PCR template.

[0086] Another method which can be used is capture PCR, which involves PCR amplification of DNA fragments adjacent to a known sequence in human and yeast artificial chromosome DNA (Lagerstrom et al., PCR Methods Applic. 1, 111-119, 1991). In this method, multiple restriction enzyme digestions and ligations also can be used to place an engineered double-stranded sequence into an unknown fragment of the DNA molecule before performing PCR.

[0087] Another method which can be used to retrieve unknown sequences is that of Parker et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 19, 3055-3060, 1991). Additionally, PCR, nested primers, and PROMOTERFINDER libraries (CLONTECH, Palo Alto, Calif.) can be used to walk genomic DNA (CLONTECH, Palo Alto, Calif.). This process avoids the need to screen libraries and is useful in finding intron/exon junctions.

[0088] When screening for full-length cDNAs, it is preferable to use libraries that have been size-selected to include larger cDNAs. Randomly-primed libraries are preferable, in that they will contain more sequences which contain the 5′ regions of genes. Use of a randomly primed library may be especially preferable for situations in which an oligo d(T) library does not yield a full-length cDNA. Genomic libraries can be useful for extension of sequence into 5′ non-transcribed regulatory regions.

[0089] Commercially available capillary electrophoresis systems can be used to analyze the size or confirm the nucleotide sequence of PCR or sequencing products. For example, capillary sequencing can employ flowable polymers for electrophoretic separation, four different fluorescent dyes (one for each nucleotide) that are laser activated, and detection of the emitted wavelengths by a charge coupled device camera. Output/light intensity can be converted to electrical signal using appropriate software (e.g. GENOTYPER and Sequence NAVIGATOR, Perkin Elmer), and the entire process from loading of samples to computer analysis and electronic data display can be computer controlled. Capillary electrophoresis is especially preferable for the sequencing of small pieces of DNA that might be present in limited amounts in a particular sample.

[0090] Obtaining Polypeptides

[0091] Human MRP5-like protein polypeptides can be obtained, for example, by purification from human cells, by expression of MRP5-like protein polynucleotides, or by direct chemical synthesis.

[0092] Protein Purification

[0093] Human MRP5-like protein polypeptides can be purified from any cell that expresses the polypeptide, including host cells that have been transfected with MRP5-like protein expression constructs. A purified MRP5-like protein polypeptide is separated from other compounds that normally associate with the MRP5-like protein polypeptide in the cell, such as certain proteins, carbohydrates, or lipids, using methods well-known in the art. Such methods include, but are not limited to, size exclusion chromatography, ammonium sulfate fractionation, ion exchange chromatography, affinity chromatography, and preparative gel electrophoresis. A preparation of purified MRP5-like protein polypeptides is at least 80% pure; preferably, the preparations are 90%, 95%, or 99% pure. Purity of the preparations can be assessed by any means known in the art, such as SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

[0094] Expression of Polynucleotides

[0095] To express an MRP5-like protein polynucleotide, the polynucleotide can be inserted into an expression vector that contains the necessary elements for the transcription and translation of the inserted coding sequence. Methods that are well known to those skilled in the art can be used to construct expression vectors containing sequences encoding MRP5-like protein polypeptides and appropriate transcriptional and translational control elements. These methods include in vitro recombinant DNA techniques, synthetic techniques, and in vivo genetic recombination. Such techniques are described, for example, in Sambrook et al. (1989) and in Ausubel et al., CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y., 1989.

[0096] A variety of expression vector/host systems can be utilized to contain and express sequences encoding an MRP5-like protein polypeptide. These include, but are not limited to, microorganisms, such as bacteria transformed with recombinant bacteriophage, plasmid, or cosmid DNA expression vectors; yeast transformed with yeast expression vectors, insect cell systems infected with virus expression vectors (e.g., baculovirus), plant cell systems transformed with virus expression vectors (e.g., cauliflower mosaic virus, CaMV; tobacco mosaic virus, TMV) or with bacterial expression vectors (e.g., Ti or pBR322 plasmids), or animal cell systems.

[0097] The control elements or regulatory sequences are those non-translated regions of the vector—enhancers, promoters, 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions—which interact with host cellular proteins to carry out transcription and translation. Such elements can vary in their strength and specificity. Depending on the vector system and host utilized, any number of suitable transcription and translation elements, including constitutive and inducible promoters, can be used. For example, when cloning in bacterial systems, inducible promoters such as the hybrid lacZ promoter of the BLUESCRIPT phagemid (Stratagene, LaJolla, Calif.) or pSPORT1 plasmid (Life Technologies) and the like can be used. The baculovirus polyhedrin promoter can be used in insect cells. Promoters or enhancers derived from the genomes of plant cells (e.g., heat shock, RUBISCO, and storage protein genes) or from plant viruses (e.g., viral promoters or leader sequences) can be cloned into the vector. In mammalian cell systems, promoters from mammalian genes or from mammalian viruses are preferable. If it is necessary to generate a cell line that contains multiple copies of a nucleotide sequence encoding an MRP5-like protein polypeptide, vectors based on SV40 or EBV can be used with an appropriate selectable marker.

[0098] Bacterial and Yeast Expression Systems

[0099] In bacterial systems, a number of expression vectors can be selected depending upon the use intended for the MRP5-like protein polypeptide. For example, when a large quantity of an MRP5-like protein polypeptide is needed for the induction of antibodies, vectors which direct high level expression of fusion proteins that are readily purified can be used. Such vectors include, but are not limited to, multifunctional E. coli cloning and expression vectors such as BLUESCRIPT (Stratagene). In a BLUESCRIPT vector, a sequence encoding the MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be ligated into the vector in frame with sequences for the amino-terminal Met and the subsequent 7 residues of β-galactosidase so that a hybrid protein is produced. pIN vectors (Van Heeke & Schuster, J. Biol. Chem. 264, 5503-5509, 1989) or pGEX vectors (Promega, Madison, Wis.) also can be used to express foreign polypeptides as fusion proteins with glutathione S-transferase (GST). In general, such fusion proteins are soluble and can easily be purified from lysed cells by adsorption to glutathione-agarose beads followed by elution in the presence of free glutathione. Proteins made in such systems can be designed to include heparin, thrombin, or factor Xa protease cleavage sites so that the cloned polypeptide of interest can be released from the GST moiety at will.

[0100] In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a number of vectors containing constitutive or inducible promoters such as alpha factor, alcohol oxidase, and PGH can be used. For reviews, see Ausubel et al. (1989) and Grant et al., Methods Enzymol. 153, 516-544, 1987.

[0101] Plant and Insect Expression Systems

[0102] If plant expression vectors are used, the expression of sequences encoding MRP5-like protein polypeptides can be driven by any of a number of promoters. For example, viral promoters such as the ³⁵S and 19S promoters of CaMV can be used alone or in combination with the omega leader sequence from TMV (Takamatsu, EMBO J. 6, 307-311, 1987). Alternatively, plant promoters such as the small subunit of RUBISCO or heat shock promoters can be used (Coruzzi et al., EMBO J. 3, 1671-1680, 1984; Broglie et al., Science 224, 838-843, 1984; Winter et al., Results Probl. Cell Differ. 17, 85-105, 1991). These constructs can be introduced into plant cells by direct DNA transformation or by pathogen-mediated transfection. Such techniques are described in a number of generally available reviews (e.g., Hobbs or Murray, in McGRAW HILL YEARBOOK OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, McGraw Hill, New York, N.Y., pp. 191-196,1992).

[0103] An insect system also can be used to express an MRP5-like protein polypeptide. For example, in one such system Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcNPV) is used as a vector to express foreign genes in Spodoptera frugiperda cells or in Trichoplusia larvae. Sequences encoding MRP5-like protein polypeptides can be cloned into a non-essential region of the virus, such as the polyhedrin gene, and placed under control of the polyhedrin promoter. Successful insertion of MRP5-like protein polypeptides will render the polyhedrin gene inactive and produce recombinant virus lacking coat protein. The recombinant viruses can then be used to infect S. frugiperda cells or Trichoplusia larvae in which MRP5-like protein polypeptides can be expressed (Engelhard et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 91, 3224-3227, 1994).

[0104] Mammalian Expression Systems

[0105] A number of viral-based expression systems can be used to express MRP5-like protein polypeptides in mammalian host cells. For example, if an adenovirus is used as an expression vector, sequences encoding MRP5-like protein polypeptides can be ligated into an adenovirus transcription/translation complex comprising the late promoter and tripartite leader sequence. Insertion in a non-essential E1 or E3 region of the viral genome can be used to obtain a viable virus that is capable of expressing an MRP5-like protein polypeptide in infected host cells (Logan & Shenk, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 81, 3655-3659, 1984). If desired, transcription enhancers, such as the Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) enhancer, can be used to increase expression in mammalian host cells.

[0106] Human artificial chromosomes (HACs) also can be used to deliver larger fragments of DNA than can be contained and expressed in a plasmid. HACs of 6M to 10M are constructed and delivered to cells via conventional delivery methods (e.g., liposomes, polycationic amino polymers, or vesicles).

[0107] Specific initiation signals also can be used to achieve more efficient translation of sequences encoding MRP5-like protein polypeptides. Such signals include the ATG initiation codon and adjacent sequences. In cases where sequences encoding an MRP5-like protein polypeptide, its initiation codon, and upstream sequences are inserted into the appropriate expression vector, no additional transcriptional or translational control signals may be needed. However, in cases where only coding sequence, or a fragment thereof, is inserted, exogenous translational control signals (including the ATG initiation codon) should be provided. The initiation codon should be in the correct reading frame to ensure translation of the entire insert. Exogenous translational elements and initiation codons can be of various origins, both natural and synthetic. The efficiency of expression can be enhanced by the inclusion of enhancers which are appropriate for the particular cell system which is used (see Scharf et al., Results Probl. Cell Differ. 20, 125-162, 1994).

[0108] Host Cells

[0109] A host cell strain can be chosen for its ability to modulate the expression of the inserted sequences or to process the expressed MRP5-like protein polypeptide in the desired fashion. Such modifications of the polypeptide include, but are not limited to, acetylation, carboxylation, glycosylation, phosphorylation, lipidation, and acylation. Post-translational processing which cleaves a “prepro” form of the polypeptide also can be used to facilitate correct insertion, folding and/or function. Different host cells that have specific cellular machinery and characteristic mechanisms for post-translational: activities (e.g., CHO, HeLa, MDCK, HEK293, and W138), are available from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC; 10801 University Boulevard, Manassas, Va. 20110-2209) and can be chosen to ensure the correct modification and processing of the foreign protein.

[0110] Stable expression is preferred for long-term, high-yield production of recombinant proteins. For example, cell lines which stably express MR5-like protein polypeptides can be transformed using expression vectors which can contain viral origins of replication and/or endogenous expression elements and a selectable marker gene on the same or on a separate vector. Following the introduction of the vector, cells can be allowed to grow for 1-2 days in an enriched medium before they are switched to a selective medium. The purpose of the selectable marker is to confer resistance to selection, and its presence allows growth and recovery of cells which successfully express the introduced MRP5-like protein sequences. Resistant clones of stably transformed cells can be proliferated using tissue culture techniques appropriate to the cell type. See, for example, ANIMAL CELL CULTURE, R. I. Freshney, ed., 1986.

[0111] Any number of selection systems can be used to recover transformed cell lines.

[0112] These include, but are not limited to, the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (Wigler et al., Cell 11, 223-32, 1977) and adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (Lowy et al., Cell 22, 817-23, 1980) genes which can be employed in tk⁻ or aprt⁻ cells, respectively. Also, antimetabolite, antibiotic, or herbicide resistance can be used as the basis for selection. For example, dhfr confers resistance to methotrexate (Wigler et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 77, 3567-70, 1980), npt confers resistance to the aminoglycosides, neomycin and G418 (Colbere-Garapin et al., J. Mol. Biol. 150, 1-14, 1981), and als and pat confer resistance to chlorsulfuron and phosphinotricin acetyltransferase, respectively (Murray, 1992, supra). Additional selectable genes have been described. For example, trpB allows cells to utilize indole in place of tryptophan, or hisD, which allows cells to utilize histinol in place of histidine (Hartman & Mulligan, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 85, 8047-51, 1988). Visible markers such as anthocyanins, β-glucuronidase and its substrate GUS, and luciferase and its substrate luciferin, can be used to identify transformants and to quantify the amount of transient or stable protein expression attributable to a specific vector system (Rhodes et al., Methods Mol. Biol. 55, 121-131, 1995).

[0113] Detecting Expression

[0114] Although the presence of marker gene expression suggests that the MRP5-like protein polynucleotide is also present, its presence and expression may need to be confirmed. For example, if a sequence encoding an MRP5-like protein polypeptide is inserted within a marker gene sequence, transformed cells containing sequences that encode an MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be identified by the absence of marker gene function. Alternatively, a marker gene can be placed in tandem with a sequence encoding an MRP5-like protein polypeptide under the control of a single promoter. Expression of the marker gene in response to induction or selection usually indicates expression of the MRP5-like protein polynucleotide.

[0115] Alternatively, host cells which contain an MRP5-like protein polynucleotide and which express an MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be identified by a variety of procedures known to those of skill in the art. These procedures include, but are not limited to, DNA-DNA or DNA-RNA hybridizations and protein bioassay or immunoassay techniques that include membrane, solution, or chip-based technologies for the detection and/or quantification of nucleic acid or protein. For example, the presence of a polynucleotide sequence encoding an MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be detected by DNA-DNA or DNA-RNA hybridization or amplification using probes or fragments or fragments of polynucleotides encoding an MRP5-like protein polypeptide. Nucleic acid amplification-based assays involve the use of oligonucleotides selected from sequences encoding an MRP5-like protein polypeptide to detect transformants that contain an MRP5-like protein polynucleotide.

[0116] A variety of protocols for detecting and measuring the expression of an MRP5-like protein polypeptide, using either polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies specific for the polypeptide, are known in the art. Examples include enzyme-inked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), radioimmunoassay (RIA), and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS). A two-site, monoclonal-based immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies reactive to two non-interfering epitopes on an MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be used, or a competitive binding assay can be employed. These and other assays are described in Hampton et al., SEROLOGICAL METHODS: A LABORATORY MANUAL, APS Press, St. Paul, Minn., 1990) and Maddox et al., J. Exp. Med. 158, 1211-1216, 1983).

[0117] A wide variety of labels and conjugation techniques are known by those skilled in the art and can be used in various nucleic acid and amino acid assays. Means for producing labeled hybridization or PCR probes for detecting sequences related to polynucleotides encoding MRP5-like protein polypeptides include oligolabeling, nick translation, end-labeling, or PCR amplification using a labeled nucleotide. Alternatively, sequences encoding an MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be cloned into a vector for the production of an mRNA probe. Such vectors are known in the art, are commercially available, and can be used to synthesize RNA probes in vitro by addition of labeled nucleotides and an appropriate RNA polymerase such as T7, T3, or SP6. These procedures can be conducted using a variety of commercially available kits (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Promega, and US Biochemical). Suitable reporter molecules or labels which can be used for ease of detection include radionuclides, enzymes, and fluorescent, chemiluminescent, or chromogenic agents, as well as substrates, cofactors, inhibitors, magnetic particles, and the like.

[0118] Expression and Purification of Polypeptides

[0119] Host cells transformed with nucleotide sequences encoding an MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be cultured under conditions suitable for the expression and recovery of the protein from cell culture. The polypeptide produced by a transformed cell can be secreted or contained intracellularly depending on the sequence and/or the vector used. As will be understood by those of skill in the art, expression vectors containing polynucleotides which encode MRP5-like protein polypeptides can be designed to contain signal sequences which direct secretion of soluble MRP5-like protein polypeptides through a prokaryotic or eukaryotic cell membrane or which direct the membrane insertion of membrane-bound MRP5-like protein polypeptide.

[0120] As discussed above, other constructions can be used to join a sequence encoding an. MRP5-like protein polypeptide to a nucleotide sequence encoding a polypeptide domain which will facilitate purification of soluble proteins. Such purification facilitating domains include, but are not limited to, metal chelating peptides such as histidine-tryptophan modules that allow purification on immobilized metals, protein A domains that allow purification on immobilized immunoglobulin, and the domain utilized in the FLAGS extension/affinity purification system (Immunex Corp., Seattle, Wash.). Inclusion of cleavable linker sequences such as those specific for Factor Xa or enterokinase (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.) between the purification domain and the MRP5-like protein polypeptide also can be used to facilitate purification. One such expression vector provides for expression of a fusion protein containing an MRP5-like protein polypeptide and 6 histidine residues preceding a thioredoxin or an enterokinase cleavage site. The histidine residues facilitate purification by IMAC (immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography, as described in Porath et al., Prot. Exp. Purif 3, 263-281, 1992), while the enterokinase cleavage site provides a means for purifying the MRP5-like protein polypeptide from the fusion protein. Vectors that contain fusion proteins are disclosed in Kroll et al., DNA Cell Biol. 12, 441-453,1993.

[0121] Chemical Synthesis

[0122] Sequences encoding an MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be synthesized, in whole or in part, using chemical methods well known in the art (see Caruthers et al., Nucl. Acids Res. Symp. Ser. 215-223, 1980; Horn et al. Nucl. Acids Res. Symp. Ser. 225-232, 1980). Alternatively, an MRP5-like protein polypeptide itself can be produced using chemical methods to synthesize its amino acid sequence, such as by direct peptide synthesis using solid-phase techniques (Merrifield, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 85, 2149-2154, 1963; Roberge et al., Science 269, 202-204, 1995). Protein synthesis can be performed using manual techniques or by automation. Automated synthesis can be achieved, for example, using Applied Biosystems 431A Peptide Synthesizer (Perkin Elmer). Optionally, fragments of MRP5-like protein polypeptides can be separately synthesized and combined using chemical methods to produce a full-length molecule.

[0123] The newly synthesized peptide can be substantially purified by preparative high performance liquid chromatography (e.g., Creighton, PROTEINS: STRUCTURES AND MOLECULAR PRINCIPLES, WH Freeman and Co., New York, N.Y., 1983). The composition of a synthetic MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be confirmed by amino acid analysis or sequencing (e.g., the Edman degradation procedure; see Creighton, supra). Additionally, any portion of the amino acid sequence of the MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be altered during direct synthesis and/or combined using chemical methods with sequences from other proteins to produce a variant polypeptide or a fusion protein.

[0124] Production of Altered Polypeptides

[0125] As will be understood by those of skill in the art, it may be advantageous to produce MRP5-like protein polypeptide-encoding nucleotide sequences possessing non-naturally occurring codons. For example, codons preferred by a particular prokaryotic or eukaryotic host can be selected to increase the rate of protein expression or to produce an RNA transcript having desirable properties, such as a half-life that is longer than that of a transcript generated from the naturally occurring sequence.

[0126] The nucleotide sequences disclosed herein can be engineered using methods generally known in the art to alter MRP5-like protein polypeptide-encoding sequences for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to, alterations which modify the cloning, processing, and/or expression of the polypeptide or mRNA product. DNA shuffling by random fragmentation and PCR reassembly of gene fragments and synthetic oligonucleotides can be used to engineer the nucleotide sequences. For example, site-directed mutagenesis can be used to insert new restriction sites, alter glycosylation patterns, change codon preference, produce splice variants, introduce mutations, and so forth.

[0127] Antibodies

[0128] Any type of antibody known in the art can be generated to bind specifically to an epitope of an MRP5-like protein polypeptide. “Antibody” as used herein includes intact immunoglobulin molecules, as well as fragments thereof, such as Fab, F(ab′)₂, and Fv, which are capable of binding an epitope of an MRP5-like protein polypeptide. Typically, at least 6, 8, 10, or 12 contiguous amino acids are required to form an epitope. However, epitopes which involve non-contiguous amino acids may require more, e.g., at least 15, 25, or 50 amino acids.

[0129] An antibody which specifically binds to an epitope of an MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be used therapeutically, as well as in immunochemical assays, such as Western blots, ELISAs, radioimmunoassays, immunohistochemical assays, immunoprecipitations, or other immunochemical assays known in the art. Various immunoassays can be used to identify antibodies having the desired specificity. Numerous protocols for competitive binding or immunoradiometric assays are well known in the art. Such immunoassays typically involve the measurement of complex formation between an immunogen and an antibody that specifically binds to the immunogen.

[0130] Typically, an antibody which specifically binds to an MRP5-like protein polypeptide provides a detection signal at least 5-, 10-, or 20-fold higher than a detection signal provided with other proteins when used in an immunochemical assay. Preferably, antibodies which specifically bind to MRP5-like protein polypeptides do not detect other proteins in immunochemical assays and can immunoprecipitate an MRP5-like protein polypeptide from solution.

[0131] Human MRP5-like protein polypeptides can be used to immunize a mammal, such as a mouse, rat, rabbit, guinea pig, monkey, or human, to produce polyclonal antibodies. If desired, an MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be conjugated to a carrier protein, such as bovine serum albumin, thyroglobulin, and keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Depending on the host species, various adjuvants can be used to increase the immunological response. Such adjuvants include, but are not limited to, Freund's adjuvant, mineral gels (e.g., aluminum hydroxide), and surface active substances (e.g. lysolecithin, pluronic polyols, polyanions, peptides, oil emulsions, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, and dinitrophenol). Among adjuvants used in humans, BCG (bacilli Calmette-Guerin) and Corynebacterium parvum are especially useful.

[0132] Monoclonal antibodies that specifically bind to an MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be prepared using any technique which provides for the production of antibody molecules by continuous cell lines in culture. These techniques include, but are not limited to, the hybridoma technique, the human B-cell hybridoma technique, and the EBV-hybridoma technique (Kohler et al., Nature 256, 495-497, 1985; Kozbor et al., J. Immunol. Methods 81, 31-42, 1985; Cote et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 80, 2026-2030, 1983; Cole et al., Mol. Cell Biol. 62, 109-120, 1984).

[0133] In addition, techniques developed for the production of “chimeric antibodies,” the splicing of mouse antibody genes to human antibody genes to obtain a molecule with appropriate antigen specificity and biological activity, can be used (Morrison et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 81, 6851-6855, 1984; Neuberger et al., Nature 312, 604-608, 1984; Takeda et al., Nature 314, 452-454, 1985). Monoclonal and other antibodies also can be “humanized” to prevent a patient from mounting an immune response against the antibody when it is used therapeutically. Such antibodies may be sufficiently similar in sequence to human antibodies to be used directly in therapy or may require alteration of a few key residues. Sequence differences between rodent antibodies and human sequences can be minimized by replacing residues which differ from those in the human sequences by site directed mutagenesis of individual residues or by grating of entire complementarity determining regions. Alternatively, humanized antibodies can be produced using recombinant methods, as described in GB2188638B. Antibodies that specifically bind to an MRP5-like protein polypeptide can contain antigen binding sites which are either partially or fully humanized, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,332.

[0134] Alternatively, techniques described for the production of single chain antibodies can be adapted using methods known in the art to produce single chain antibodies that specifically bind to MRP5-like protein polypeptides. Antibodies with related specificity, but of distinct idiotypic composition, can be generated by chain shuffling from random combinatorial immunoglobin libraries (Burton, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 88, 11120-23, 1991).

[0135] Single-chain antibodies also can be constructed using a DNA amplification method, such as PCR, using hybridoma cDNA as a template (Thirion et al., 1996, Eur. J. Cancer Prev. 5, 507-11). Single-chain antibodies can be mono- or bispecific, and can be bivalent or tetravalent. Construction of tetravalent, bispecific single-chain antibodies is taught, for example, in Coloma & Morrison, 1997, Nat. Biotechnol. 15, 159-63. Construction of bivalent, bispecific single-chain antibodies is taught in Mallender & Voss, 1994, J. Biol. Chem. 269, 199-206.

[0136] A nucleotide sequence encoding a single-chain antibody can be constructed using manual or automated nucleotide synthesis, cloned into an expression construct using standard recombinant DNA methods, and introduced into a cell to express the coding sequence, as described below. Alternatively, single-chain antibodies can be produced directly using, for example, filamentous phage technology (Verhaar et al., 1995, Int. J. Cancer 61, 497-501; Nicholls et al., 1993, J. Immunol. Meth. 165, 81-91).

[0137] Antibodies which specifically bind to MRP5-like protein polypeptides also can be produced by inducing in vivo production in the lymphocyte population or by screening immunoglobulin libraries or panels of highly specific binding reagents as disclosed in the literature (Orlandi et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 86, 3833-3837, 1989; Winter et al., Nature 349, 293-299, 1991).

[0138] Other types of antibodies can be constructed and used therapeutically in methods of the invention. For example, chimeric antibodies can be constructed as disclosed in WO 93/03151. Binding proteins which are derived from immunoglobulins and which are multivalent and multispecific, such as the “diabodies” described in WO 94/13804, also can be prepared.

[0139] Antibodies according to the invention can be purified by methods well known in the art. For example, antibodies can be affinity purified by passage over a column to which an MRP5-like protein polypeptide is bound. The bound antibodies can then be eluted from the column using a buffer with a high salt concentration.

[0140] Antisense Oligonucleotides

[0141] Antisense oligonucleotides are nucleotide sequences that are complementary to a specific DNA or RNA sequence. Once introduced into a cell, the complementary nucleotides combine with natural sequences produced by the cell to form complexes and block either transcription or translation. Preferably, an antisense oligonucleotide is at least 11 nucleotides in length, but can be at least 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 or more nucleotides long. Longer sequences also can be used. Antisense oligonucleotide molecules can be provided in a DNA construct and introduced into a cell as described above to decrease the level of MRP5-like protein gene products in the cell.

[0142] Antisense oligonucleotides can be deoxyribonucleotides, ribonucleotides, or a combination of both. Oligonucleotides can be synthesized manually or by an automated synthesizer, by covalently linking the 5′ end of one nucleotide with the 3′ end of another nucleotide with non-phosphodiester internucleotide linkages such alkylphosphonates, phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates, alkylphosphonothioates, alkylphosphonates, phosphoramidates, phosphate esters, carbamates, acetamidate, carboxymethyl esters, carbonates, and phosphate triesters. See Brown, Meth. Mol. Biol. 20, 1-8, 1994; Sonveaux, Meth. Mol. Biol. 26, 1-72, 1994; Uhlmann et al., Chem. Rev. 90, 543-583, 1990.

[0143] Modifications of MRP5-like protein gene expression can be obtained by designing antisense oligonucleotides that will form duplexes to the control, 5′, or regulatory regions of the MRP5-like protein gene. Oligonucleotides derived from the transcription initiation site, e.g., between positions −10 and +10 from the start site, are preferred. Similarly, inhibition can be achieved using “triple helix” base-pairing methodology. Triple helix pairing is useful because it causes inhibition of the ability of the double helix to open sufficiently for the binding of polymerases, transcription factors, or chaperons. Therapeutic advances using triplex DNA have been described in the literature (e.g., Gee et al., in Huber & Carr, MOLECULAR AND IMMUNOLOGIC APPROACHES, Futura Publishing Co., Mt. Kisco, N.Y., 1994). An antisense oligonucleotide also can be designed to block translation of mRNA by preventing the transcript from binding to ribosomes.

[0144] Precise complementarity is not required for successful complex formation between an antisense oligonucleotide and the complementary sequence of an MRP5-like protein polynucleotide. Antisense oligonucleotides which comprise, for example, 2, 3, 4, or 5 or more stretches of contiguous nucleotides which are precisely complementary to an MRP5-like protein polynucleotide, each separated by a stretch of contiguous nucleotides which are not complementary to adjacent MRP5-like protein nucleotides, can provide sufficient targeting specificity for MRP5-like protein mRNA. Preferably, each stretch of complementary contiguous nucleotides is at least 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 or more nucleotides in length. Non-complementary intervening sequences are preferably 1, 2, 3, or 4 nucleotides in length. One skilled in the art can easily use the calculated melting point of an antisense-sense pair to determine the degree of mismatching which will be tolerated between a particular antisense oligonucleotide and a particular MRP5-like protein polynucleotide sequence.

[0145] Antisense oligonucleotides can be modified without affecting their ability to hybridize to an MRP5-like protein polynucleotide. These modifications can be internal or at one or both ends of the antisense molecule. For example, internucleoside phosphate linkages can be modified by adding cholesteryl or diamine moieties with varying numbers of carbon residues between the amino groups and terminal ribose. Modified bases and/or sugars, such as arabinose instead of ribose, or a 3′, 5′-substituted oligonucleotide in which the 3′ hydroxyl group or the 5′ phosphate group are substituted, also can be employed in a modified antisense oligonucleotide.

[0146] These modified oligonucleotides can be prepared by methods well known in the art. See, e.g., Agrawal et al., Trends Biotechnol. 10, 152-158, 1992; Uhlmann et al., Chem. Rev. 90, 543-584, 1990; Uhlmann et al., Tetrahedron. Lett. 215, 3539-3542, 1987.

[0147] Ribozymes

[0148] Ribozymes are RNA molecules with catalytic activity. See, e.g., Cech, Science 236, 1532-1539; 1987; Cech, Ann. Rev. Biochem. 59, 543-568; 1990, Cech, Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. 2, 605-609; 1992, Couture & Stinchcomb, Trends Genet. 12, 510-515, 1996. Ribozymes can be used to inhibit gene function by cleaving an RNA sequence, as is known in the art (e.g., Haseloff et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,673). The mechanism of ribozyme action involves sequence-specific hybridization of the ribozyme molecule to complementary target RNA, followed by endonucleolytic cleavage. Examples include engineered hammerhead motif ribozyme molecules that can specifically and efficiently catalyze endonucleolytic cleavage of specific nucleotide sequences.

[0149] The coding sequence of an MRP5-like protein polynucleotide can be used to generate ribozymes that will specifically bind to mRNA transcribed from the MRP5-like protein polynucleotide. Methods of designing and constructing ribozymes which can cleave other RNA molecules in trans in a highly sequence specific manner have been developed and described in the art (see Haseloff et al. Nature 334, 585-591, 1988). For example, the cleavage activity of ribozymes can be targeted to specific RNAs by engineering a discrete “hybridization” region into the ribozyme. The hybridization region contains a sequence complementary to the target RNA and thus specifically hybridizes with the target (see, for example, Gerlach et al., EP 321,201).

[0150] Specific ribozyme cleavage sites within an MRP5-like protein RNA target can be identified by scanning the target molecule for ribozyme cleavage sites which include the following sequences: GUA, GUU, and GUC. Once identified, short RNA sequences of between 15 and 20 ribonucleotides corresponding to the region of the target RNA containing the cleavage site can be evaluated for secondary structural features which may render the target inoperable. Suitability of candidate MRP5-like protein RNA targets also can be evaluated by testing accessibility to hybridization with complementary oligonucleotides using ribonuclease protection assays. Longer complementary sequences can be used to increase the affinity of the hybridization sequence for the target. The hybridizing and cleavage regions of the ribozyme can be integrally related such that upon hybridizing to the target RNA through the complementary regions, the catalytic region of the ribozyme can cleave the target.

[0151] Ribozymes can be introduced into cells as part of a DNA construct. Mechanical methods, such as microinjection, liposome-mediated transfection, electroporation, or calcium phosphate precipitation, can be used to introduce a ribozyme-containing DNA construct into cells in which it is desired to decrease MRP5-like protein expression. Alternatively, if it is desired that the cells stably retain the DNA construct, the construct can be supplied on a plasmid and maintained as a separate element or integrated into the genome of the cells, as is known in the art. A ribozyme-encoding DNA construct can include transcriptional regulatory elements, such as a promoter element, an enhancer or UAS element, and a transcriptional terminator signal, for controlling transcription of ribozymes in the cells.

[0152] As taught in Haseloff et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,673, ribozymes can be engineered so that ribozyme expression will occur in response to factors that induce expression of a target gene. Ribozymes also can be engineered to provide an additional level of regulation, so that destruction of mRNA occurs only when both a ribozyme and a target gene are induced in the cells.

[0153] Differentially Expressed Genes

[0154] Described herein are methods for the identification of genes whose products interact with human MRP5-like protein. Such genes may represent genes that are differentially expressed in disorders including, but not limited to, cardiovascular disorders, cancer, and CNS disorders. Further, such genes may represent genes that are differentially regulated in response to manipulations relevant to the progression or treatment of such diseases. Additionally, such genes may have a temporally modulated expression, increased or decreased at different stages of tissue or organism development. A differentially expressed gene may also have its expression modulated under control versus experimental conditions. In addition, the human MRP5-like protein gene or gene product may itself be tested for differential expression.

[0155] The degree to which expression differs in a normal versus a diseased state need only be large enough to be visualized via standard characterization techniques such as differential display techniques. Other such standard characterization techniques by which expression differences may be visualized include but are not limited to, quantitative RT (reverse transcriptase), PCR, and Northern analysis.

[0156] Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes

[0157] To identify differentially expressed genes total RNA or, preferably, mRNA is isolated from tissues of interest. For example, RNA samples are obtained from tissues of experimental subjects and from corresponding tissues of control subjects.

[0158] Any RNA isolation technique that does not select against the isolation of mRNA may be utilized for the purification of such RNA samples. See, for example, Ausubel et al., ed., CURRENT PROTOCOLS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, 1987-1993. Large numbers of tissue samples may readily be processed using techniques well known to those of skill in the art, such as, for example, the single-step RNA isolation process of Chomczynski, U.S. Pat. No. 4,843,155.

[0159] Transcripts within the collected RNA samples that represent RNA produced by differentially expressed genes are identified by methods well known to those of skill in the art. They include, for example, differential screening (Tedder et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 85, 208-12, 1988), subtractive hybridization (Hedrick et al., Nature 308, 149-53; Lee et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 2825, 1984), and, preferably, differential display (Liang & Pardee, Science 257, 967-71, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,311).

[0160] The differential expression information may itself suggest relevant methods for the treatment of disorders involving the human MRP5-like protein. For example, treatment may include a modulation of expression of the differentially expressed genes and/or the gene encoding the human MRP5-like protein. The differential expression information may indicate whether the expression or activity of the differentially expressed gene or gene product or the human MRP5-like protein gene or gene product are up-regulated or down-regulated.

[0161] Screening Methods

[0162] The invention provides assays for screening test compounds that bind to or modulate the activity of an MRP5-like protein polypeptide or an MRP5-like protein polynucleotide.

[0163] A test compound preferably binds to an MRP5-like protein polypeptide or polynucleotide. More preferably, a test compound decreases or increases a biological activity of the protein by at least about 10, preferably about 50, more preferably about 75, 90, or 100% relative to the absence of the test compound.

[0164] Test Compounds

[0165] Test compounds can be pharmacologic agents already known in the art or can be compounds previously unknown to have any pharmacological activity. The compounds can be naturally occurring or designed in the laboratory. They can be isolated from microorganisms, animals, or plants, and can be produced recombinantly, or synthesized by chemical methods known in the art. If desired, test compounds can be obtained using any of the numerous combinatorial library methods known in the art, including but not limited to, biological libraries, spatially addressable parallel solid phase or solution phase libraries, synthetic library methods requiring deconvolution, the “one-bead one-compound” library method, and synthetic library methods using affinity chromatography selection. The biological library approach is limited to polypeptide libraries, while the other four approaches are applicable to polypeptide, non-peptide oligomer, or small molecule libraries of compounds. See Lam, Anticancer Drug Des. 12, 145, 1997.

[0166] Methods for the synthesis of molecular libraries are well known in the art (see, for example, DeWitt et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90, 6909, 1993; Erb et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 91, 11422, 1994; Zuckermann et al., J. Med Chem. 37, 2678, 1994; Cho et al., Science 261, 1303, 1993; Carell et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 33, 2059, 1994; Carell et al., Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 33, 2061; Gallop et al., J. Med Chem. 37, 1233, 1994). Libraries of compounds can be presented in solution (see, e.g., Houghten, BioTechniques 13, 412-421, 1992), or on beads (Lam, Nature 3S4, 82-84, 1991), chips (Fodor, Nature 364, 555-556, 1993), bacteria or spores (Ladner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409), plasmids (Cull et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89, 1865-1869, 1992), or phage (Scott & Smith, Science 249, 386-390, 1990; Devlin, Science 249, 404-406, 1990); Cwirla et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 97, 6378-6382, 1990; Felici, J. Mol. Biol. 222, 301-310, 1991; and Ladner, U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,409).

[0167] High Throughput Screening

[0168] Test compounds can be screened for the ability to bind to MRP5-like protein polypeptides or polynucleotides or to affect MRP5-like protein activity or MRP5-like protein gene expression using high throughput screening. Using high throughput screening, many discrete compounds can be tested in parallel so that large numbers of test compounds can be quickly screened. The most widely established techniques utilize 96-well microtiter plates. The wells of the microtiter plates typically require assay volumes that range from 50 to 500 μl. In addition to the plates, many instruments, materials, pipettors, robotics, plate washers, and plate readers are commercially available to fit the 96-well format.

[0169] Alternatively, “free format assays,” or assays that have no physical barrier between samples, can be used. For example, an assay using pigment cells (melanocytes) in a simple homogeneous assay for combinatorial peptide libraries is described by Jayawickreme et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S. 19, 1614-18 (1994). The cells are placed under agarose in petri dishes, then beads that carry combinatorial compounds are placed on the surface of the agarose. The combinatorial compounds are partially released the compounds from the beads. Active compounds can be visualized as dark pigment areas because, as the compounds diffuse locally into the gel matrix, the active compounds cause the cells to change colors.

[0170] Another example of a free format assay is described by Chelsky, “Strategies for Screening Combinatorial Libraries: Novel and Traditional Approaches,” reported at the First Annual Conference of The Society for Biomolecular Screening in Philadelphia, Pa. (Nov. 7-10, 1995). Chelsky placed a simple homogenous enzyme assay for carbonic anhydrase inside an agarose gel such that the enzyme in the gel would cause a color change throughout the gel. Thereafter, beads carrying combinatorial compounds via a photolinker were placed inside the gel and the compounds were partially released by UV-light. Compounds that inhibited the enzyme were observed as local zones of inhibition having less color change.

[0171] Yet another example is described by Salmon et al., Molecular Diversity 2, 57-63 (1996). In this example, combinatorial libraries were screened for compounds that had cytotoxic effects on cancer cells growing in agar.

[0172] Another high throughput screening method is described in Beutel et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,813. In thus method, test samples are placed in a porous matrix. One or more assay components are then placed within, on top of, or at the bottom of a matrix such as a gel, a plastic sheet, a filter, or other form of easily manipulated solid support.

[0173] When samples are introduced to the porous matrix they diffuse sufficiently slowly, such that the assays can be performed without the test samples running together.

[0174] Binding Assays

[0175] For binding assays, the test compound is preferably a small molecule that binds to a MRP5-like protein polypeptide, such that normal biological activity is prevented. Examples of such small molecules include, but are not limited to, small peptides or peptide-like molecules.

[0176] In binding assays, either the test compound or the MRP5-like protein polypeptide can comprise a detectable label, such as a fluorescent, radioisotopic, chemiluminescent, or enzymatic label, such as horseradish peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, or luciferase. Detection of a test compound that is bound to the MRP5-like protein polypeptide can then be accomplished, for example, by direct counting of radio-emmission, by scintillation counting, or by determining conversion of an appropriate substrate to a detectable product.

[0177] Alternatively, binding of a test compound to an MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be determined without labeling either of the interactants. For example, a microphysiometer can be used to detect binding of a test compound with an MRP5-like protein polypeptide. A microphysiometer (e.g., Cytosensor™) is an analytical instrument that measures the rate at which a cell acidifies its environment using a light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS). Changes in this acidification rate can be used as an indicator of the interaction between a test compound and an MRP5-like protein polypeptide (McConnell et al., Science 257, 1906-1912, 1992).

[0178] Determining the ability of a test compound to bind to an MRP5-like protein polypeptide also can be accomplished using a technology such as real-time Bimolecular Interaction Analysis (BIA) (Sjolander & Urbaniczky, Anal. Chem. 63, 2338-2345, 1991, and Szabo et al., Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. 5, 699-705, 1995). BIA is a technology for studying biospecific interactions in real time, without labeling any of the interactants (e.g., BIAcore™). Changes in the optical phenomenon surface plasmon resonance (SPR) can be used as an indication of real-time reactions between biological molecules.

[0179] In yet another aspect of the invention, an MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be used as a “bait protein” in a two-hybrid assay or three-hybrid assay (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,283,317; Zervos et al., Cell 72, 223-232, 1993; Madura et al., J. Biol. Chem. 268, 12046-12054, 1993; Bartel et al., BioTechniques 14, 920-924, 1993; Iwabuchi et al., Oncogene 8, 1693-1696, 1993; and Brent WO94/10300), to identify other proteins which bind to or interact with the MRP5-like protein polypeptide and modulate its activity.

[0180] The two-hybrid system is based on the modular nature of most transcription factors, which consist of separable DNA-binding and activation domains. Briefly, the assay utilizes two different DNA constructs. For example, in one construct, polynucleotide encoding an MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be fused to a polynucleotide encoding the DNA binding domain of a known transcription factor (e.g., GAL-4). In the other construct a DNA sequence that encodes an unidentified protein (“prey” or “sample”) can be fused to a polynucleotide that codes for the activation domain of the known transcription factor. If the “bait” and the “prey” proteins are able to interact in vivo to form an protein-dependent complex, the DNA-binding and activation domains of the transcription factor are brought into close proximity. This proximity allows transcription of a reporter gene (e.g., LacZ), which is operably linked to a transcriptional regulatory site responsive to the transcription factor.

[0181] NHS(N-hydroxysuccinimide) using techniques well known in the art (e.g., biotinylation kit, Pierce Chemicals, Rockford, Ill.) and immobilized in the wells of streptavidin-coated 96 well plates (Pierce Chemical). Alternatively, antibodies which specifically bind to an MRP5-like protein polypeptide, polynucleotide, or a test compound, but which do not interfere with a desired binding site can be derivatized to the wells of the plate. Unbound target or protein can be trapped in the wells by antibody conjugation.

[0182] Methods for detecting such complexes, in addition to those described above for the GST-immobilized complexes, include immunodetection of complexes using antibodies which specifically bind to the MRP5-like protein polypeptide or test compound, enzyme-linked assays which rely on detecting an activity of the MRP5-like protein polypeptide, and SDS gel electrophoresis under non-reducing conditions.

[0183] Screening for test compounds which bind to an MRP5-like protein polypeptide or polylnucleotide also can be carried out in an intact cell. Any cell which comprises an MRP5-like protein polypeptide or polynucleotide can be used in a cell-based assay system. AN MRP5-like protein polynucleotide can be naturally occurring in the cell or can be introduced using techniques such as those described above. Binding of the test compound to an MRP5-like protein polypeptide or polynucleotide is determined as described above.

[0184] Gene Expression

[0185] In another embodiment, test compounds that increase or decrease MRP5-like protein gene expression are identified. An MRP5-like protein polynucleotide is contacted with a test compound, and the expression of an RNA or polypeptide product of the MRP5-like protein polynucleotide is determined. The level of expression of appropriate mRNA or polypeptide in the presence of the test compound is compared to the level of expression of mRNA or polypeptide in the absence of the test compound. The test compound can then be identified as a modulator of expression based on this comparison. For example, when expression of mRNA or polypeptide is greater in the presence of the test compound than in its absence, the test compound is identified as a stimulator or enhancer of the mRNA or polypeptide expression. Alternatively, when expression of the mRNA or polypeptide is less in the presence of the test compound than in its absence, the test compound is identified as an inhibitor of the mRNA or polypeptide expression.

[0186] The level of MRP5-like protein mRNA or polypeptide expression in the cells can be determined by methods well known in the art for detecting mRNA or polypeptide. Either qualitative or quantitative methods can be used. The presence of polypeptide products of an MRP5-like protein polynucleotide can be determined, for example, using a variety of techniques known in the art, including immunochemical methods such as radioimmunoassay, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. Alternatively, polypeptide synthesis can be determined in vivo, in a cell culture, or in an in vitro translation system by detecting incorporation of labeled amino acids into an MRP5-like protein polypeptide.

[0187] Such screening can be carried out either in a cell-free assay system or in an intact cell. Any cell that expresses an MRP5-like protein polynucleotide can be used in a cell-based assay system. The MRP5-like protein polynucleotide can be naturally occurring in the cell or can be introduced using techniques such as those described above. Either a primary culture or an established cell line, such as CHO or human embryonic kidney 293 cells, can be used.

[0188] Assays for biological activity

[0189] Test compounds can be screened for the ability to regulate the ability of MRP5-like protein to transport various compounds. For example, transport of therapeutic agents can be assessed, e.g., as described in Wijnholds et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 97, 7476-81, 2000. Transport of cGMP can be assessed, e.g., as described in Jedlitchsky et al., J. Biol. Chem. 275, 30069-74, 2000. Such assays can be carried out, for example, after contacting an intact cell with a test compound. A test compound that decreases transport activity of an MRP5-like protein polypeptide by at least about 10, preferably about 50, more preferably about 75, 90, or 100% is identified as a potential therapeutic agent for decreasing MRP5-like protein activity. A test compound which increases transport activity of a human MRP5-like protein polypeptide by at least about 10, preferably about 50, more preferably about 75, 90, or 100% is identified as a potential therapeutic agent for increasing human MRP5-like protein activity.

[0190] Pharmaceutical Compositions

[0191] The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions that can be administered to a patient to achieve a therapeutic effect. Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention can comprise, for example, an MRP5-like protein polypeptide, MRP5-like protein polynucleotide, ribozymes or antisense oligonucleotides, antibodies which specifically bind to an MRP5-like protein polypeptide, or mimetics, activators, or inhibitors of an MRP5-like protein polypeptide activity. The compositions can be administered alone or in combination with at least one other agent, such as stabilizing compound, which can be administered in any sterile, biocompatible pharmaceutical carrier, including, but not limited to, saline, buffered saline, dextrose, and water. The compositions can be administered to a patient alone, or in combination with other agents, drugs or hormones.

[0192] In addition to the active ingredients, these pharmaceutical compositions can contain suitable pharmaceutically-acceptable carriers comprising excipients and auxiliaries that facilitate processing of the active compounds into preparations which can be used pharmaceutically. Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention can be administered by any number of routes including, but not limited to, oral, intravenous, intramuscular, intra-arterial, intramedullary, intrathecal, intraventricular, transdermal, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, intranasal, parenteral, topical, sublingual, or rectal means. Pharmaceutical compositions for oral administration can be formulated using pharmaceutically acceptable carriers well known in the art in dosages suitable for oral administration. Such carriers enable the pharmaceutical compositions to be formulated as tablets, pills, dragees, capsules, liquids, gels, syrups, slurries, suspensions, and the like, for ingestion by the patient.

[0193] Pharmaceutical preparations for oral use can be obtained through combination of active compounds with solid excipient, optionally grinding a resulting mixture, and processing the mixture of granules, after adding suitable auxiliaries, if desired, to obtain tablets or dragee cores. Suitable excipients are carbohydrate or protein fillers, such as sugars, including lactose, sucrose, mannitol, or sorbitol; starch from corn, wheat, rice, potato, or other plants; cellulose, such as methyl cellulose, hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose, or sodium carboxymethylcellulose; gums including arabic and tragacanth; and proteins such as gelatin and collagen. If desired, disintegrating or solubilizing agents can be added, such as the cross-linked polyvinyl pyrrolidone, agar, alginic acid, or a salt thereof, such as sodium alginate.

[0194] Dragee cores can be used in conjunction with suitable coatings, such as concentrated sugar solutions, which also can contain gum arabic, talc, polyvinylpyrrolidone, carbopol gel, polyethylene glycol, and/or titanium dioxide, lacquer solutions, and suitable organic solvents or solvent mixtures. Dyestuffs or pigments can be added to the tablets or dragee coatings for product identification or to characterize the quantity of active compound, i.e., dosage.

[0195] Pharmaceutical preparations that can be used orally include push-fit capsules made of gelatin, as well as soft, sealed capsules made of gelatin and a coating, such as glycerol or sorbitol. Push-fit capsules can contain active ingredients mixed with a filler or binders, such as lactose or starches, lubricants, such as talc or magnesium stearate, and, optionally, stabilizers. In soft capsules, the active compounds can be dissolved or suspended in suitable liquids, such as fatty oils, liquid, or liquid polyethylene glycol with or without stabilizers.

[0196] Pharmaceutical formulations suitable for parenteral administration can be formulated in aqueous solutions, preferably in physiologically compatible buffers such as Hanks' solution, Ringer's solution, or physiologically buffered saline. Aqueous injection suspensions can contain substances that increase the viscosity of the suspension, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sorbitol, or dextran. Additionally, suspensions of the active compounds can be prepared as appropriate oily injection suspensions. Suitable lipophilic solvents or vehicles include fatty oils such as sesame oil, or synthetic fatty acid esters, such as ethyl oleate or triglycerides, or liposomes. Non-lipid polycationic amino polymers also can be used for delivery. Optionally, the suspension also can contain suitable stabilizers or agents that increase the solubility of the compounds to allow for the preparation of highly concentrated solutions. For topical or nasal administration, penetrants appropriate to the particular barrier to be permeated are used in the formulation. Such penetrants are generally known in the art.

[0197] The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be manufactured in a manner that is known in the art, e.g., by means of conventional mixing, dissolving, granulating, dragee-making, levigating, emulsifying, encapsulating, entrapping, or lyophilizing processes. The pharmaceutical composition can be provided as a salt and can be formed with many acids, including but not limited to, hydrochloric, sulfuric, acetic, lactic, tartaric, malic, succinic, etc. Salts tend to be more soluble in aqueous or other protonic solvents than are the corresponding free base forms. In other cases, the preferred preparation can be a lyophilized powder which can contain any or all of the following: 1-50 mM histidine, 0.1%-2% sucrose, and 2-7% mannitol, at a pH range of 4.5 to 5.5, that is combined with buffer prior to use.

[0198] Further details on techniques for formulation and administration can be found in the latest edition of REMINGTON'S PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES (Maack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa.). After pharmaceutical compositions have been prepared, they can be placed in an appropriate container and labeled for treatment of an indicated condition. Such labeling would include amount, frequency, and method of administration.

[0199] Therapeutic Indications and Methods

[0200] ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, play a critical role in cellular detoxification processes. These transporters provide an innate, but in many respects also adaptive, defense system against toxins, harmful metabolic compounds, and inherently toxic therapeutic agents. Hydrophobic, toxic substances readily penetrate the membrane system of the cell. Importantly, a subset of the ABC transporter mediates the export of a wide variety of such substances. Besides their classical function as multidrug resistance (MRP) genes, MRP1 and MRP3 are capable of translocating phospholipids between the internal and external plasma membrane leaflet. Recent studies in the human CaCo cell line suggest a role for MRP1 in the translocation of cholesterol from the plasma membrane to the endoplasmic reticulum. The emerging concept that members of the ABC transporter family are critically involved in cellular lipid trafficking has been convincingly substantiated by the recent discovery of additional ABC family members for which key regulatory functions in physiologic lipid transport processes could be demonstrated. The group of these ABC transporters include MRP5 and BSEP, which was shown to play a crucial role in hepatic excretion of bile salts and glutathione conjugates into the bile. Furthermore, the disruption of MRP2 in mouse mutants resulted in the virtual absence of

[0201] ATP-dependent biliary phospholipid and cholesterol secretion, leading to a marked reduction of serum HDL cholesterol and VLDL triglycerides. These abnormalities in lipid metabolism may be caused by a reduced MRP2-dependent absorption of dietary and biliary lipids.

[0202] Human MRP5-like protein can be regulated to treat cardiovascular disorders, cancer, and CNS disorders. ABC transporters are involved in cellular detoxification processes, protecting cells against toxins, harmful metabolic compounds, and toxic therapeutic agents. Recent studies suggest that multidrug resistance proteins (MRPs), may be involved in translocating phospholipids and cholesterol across the cellular membrane. ABC transporters play a role in lipid transport and inflammation, which may contribute to arteriosclerosis. One human ABC transporter, MRP5, when stably expressed in V79 hamster lung fibroblasts, transports cyclic nucleotides such as cGMP. Jedlitschsky et al., 2000. This transport was inhibited by phosphodiesterase inhibitors such as Sildenafil, Trequinsin, and Zaprinast. Id. Cyclic GMP plays a major role in signal transduction pathways, including smooth muscle relaxation, neural communication, and platelet aggregation.

[0203] The affinity of MRP5 for cGMP suggests MRP5 as a potential pharmacological target for cardiovascular conditions such as arterial hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, and angina pectoris. Cardiovascular diseases include the following disorders of the heart and the vascular system: congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, ischernic diseases of the heart, all kinds of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, hypertensive vascular diseases, and peripheral vascular diseases.

[0204] Heart failure is defined as a pathophysiologic state in which an abnormality of cardiac function is responsible for the failure of the heart to pump blood at a rate commensurate with the requirement of the metabolizing tissue. It includes all forms of pumping failure, such as high-output and low-output, acute and chronic, right-sided or left-sided, systolic or diastolic, independent of the underlying cause.

[0205] Myocardial infarction (MI) is generally caused by an abrupt decrease in coronary blood flow that follows a thrombotic occlusion of a coronary artery previously narrowed by arteriosclerosis. MI prophylaxis (prirnary and secondary prevention) is included, as well as the acute treatment of MI and the prevention of complications.

[0206] Ischemic diseases are conditions in which the coronary flow is restricted resulting in a perfusion which is inadequate to meet the myocardial requirement for oxygen. This group of diseases includes stable angina, unstable angina, and asymptomatic ischemia.

[0207] Arrhythmias include all forms of atrial and ventricular tachyarrhythmias (atrial tachycardia, atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation, atrio-ventricular reentrant tachycardia, preexcitation syndrome, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular flutter, and ventricular fibrillation), as well as bradycardic forms of arrhythmias.

[0208] Vascular diseases include primary as well as all kinds of secondary arterial hypertension (renal, endocrine, neurogenic, others). The disclosed gene and its product may be used as drug targets for the treatment of hypertension as well as for the prevention of all complications. Peripheral vascular diseases are defined as vascular diseases in which arterial and/or venous flow is reduced resulting in an imbalance between blood supply and tissue oxygen demand. It includes chronic peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD), acute arterial thrombosis and embolism, inflammatory vascular disorders, Raynaud's phenomenon, and venous disorders.

[0209] MRPs also play a defensive role for cancer cells against chemotherapeutic agents and virally infected cells against anti-viral agents. MRPs act as multispecific organic anion pumps including nucleotide analogs. In polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney II cells which overexpress human MRP5, MRP5 mediates transport of S-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)glutathione and glutathione; these cells are resistant to the thiopurine anticancer drugs 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) and thioguanine. Wijnholds et al., 2000. The transfected cells also transport of the anti-HIV drug 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)-adenine (PMEA). Id. This transport is inhibited by inhibitors of organic anion transport. Id. Selective inhibition of MRPs may enhance the therapeutic efficacy of anticancer and antiviral drugs, by decreasing the export of therapeutic agents and thus increasing their intracellular concentration and efficacy.

[0210] Cancer is a disease fundamentally caused by oncogenic cellular transformation. There are several hallmarks of transformed cells that distinguish them from their normal counterparts and underlie the pathophysiology of cancer. These include uncontrolled cellular proliferation, unresponsiveness to normal death-inducing signals (immortalization), increased cellular motility and invasiveness, increased ability to recruit blood supply through induction of new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis), genetic instability, and dysregulated gene expression. Various combinations of these aberrant physiologies, along with the acquisition of drug-resistance frequently lead to an intractable disease state in which organ failure and patient death ultimately ensue.

[0211] Most standard cancer therapies target cellular proliferation and rely on the differential proliferative capacities between transformed and normal cells for their efficacy. This approach is hindered by the facts that several important normal cell types are also highly proliferative and that cancer cells frequently become resistant to these agents. Thus, the therapeutic indices for traditional anti-cancer therapies rarely exceed 2.0.

[0212] The advent of genomics-driven molecular target identification has opened up the possibility of identifying new cancer-specific targets for therapeutic intervention that will provide safer, more effective treatments for cancer patients. Thus, newly discovered tumor-associated genes and their products can be tested for their role(s) in disease and used as tools to discover and develop innovative therapies. Genes playing important roles in any of the physiological processes outlined above can be characterized as cancer targets.

[0213] Genes or gene fragments identified through genomics can readily be expressed in one or more heterologous expression systems to produce functional recombinant proteins. These proteins are characterized in vitro for their biochemical properties and then used as tools in high-throughput molecular screening programs to identify chemical modulators of their biochemical activities. Activators and/or inhibitors of target protein activity can be identified in this manner and subsequently tested in cellular and in vivo disease models for anti-cancer activity. Optimization of lead compounds with iterative testing in biological models and detailed pharmacokinetic and toxicological analyses form the basis for drug development and subsequent testing in humans.

[0214] Central and peripheral nervous system disorders also can be treated, such as primary and secondary disorders after brain injury, disorders of mood, anxiety disorders, disorders of thought and volition, disorders of sleep and wakefulness, diseases of the motor unit, such as neurogenic and myopathic disorders, neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parlinson's disease, and processes of peripheral and chronic pain.

[0215] Pain that is associated with CNS disorders also can be treated by regulating the activity of human MRP5-like protein. Pain which can be treated includes that associated with central nervous system disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, sciatica, failed back surgery syndrome, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, post-stroke, and vascular lesions in the brain and spinal cord (e.g., infarct, hemorrhage, vascular malformation). Non-central neuropathic pain includes that associated with post mastectomy pain, reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), trigeminal neuralgiaradioculopathy, post-surgical pain, HIV/AIDS related pain, cancer pain, metabolic neuropathies (e.g., diabetic neuropathy, vasculitic neuropathy secondary to connective tissue disease), paraneoplastic polyneuropathy associated, for example, with carcinoma of lung, or leukemia, or lymphoma, or carcinoma of prostate, colon or stomach, trigeminal neuralgia, cranial neuralgias, and post-herpetic neuralgia. Pain associated with cancer and cancer treatment also can be treated, as can headache pain (for example, migraine with aura, migraine without aura, and other migraine disorders), episodic and chronic tension-type headache, tension-type like headache, cluster headache, and chronic paroxysmal hemicrania.

[0216] This invention further pertains to the use of novel agents identified by the screening assays described above. Accordingly, it is within the scope of this invention to use a test compound identified as described herein in an appropriate animal model. For example, an agent identified as described herein (e.g., a modulating agent, an antisense nucleic acid molecule, a specific antibody, ribozyme, or an MRP5-like protein polypeptide binding molecule) can be used in an animal model to determine the efficacy, toxicity, or side effects of treatment with such an agent. Alternatively, an agent identified as described herein can be used in an animal model to determine the mechanism of action of such an agent. Furthermore, this invention pertains to uses of novel agents identified by the above-described screening assays for treatments as described herein.

[0217] A reagent which affects MRP5-like protein activity can be administered to a human cell, either in vitro or in vivo, to reduce MRP5-like protein activity. The reagent preferably binds to an expression product of a human MRP5-like protein gene. If the expression product is a protein, the reagent is preferably an antibody. For treatment of human cells ex vivo, an antibody can be added to a preparation of stem cells that have been removed from the body. The cells can then be replaced in the same or another human body, with or without clonal propagation, as is known in the art.

[0218] In one embodiment, the reagent is delivered using a liposome. Preferably, the liposome is stable in the animal into which it has been administered for at least about 30 minutes, more preferably for at least about 1 hour, and even more preferably for at least about 24 hours. A liposome comprises a lipid composition that is capable of targeting a reagent, particularly a polynucleotide, to a particular site in an animal, such as a human. Preferably, the lipid composition of the liposome is capable of targeting to a specific organ of an animal, such as the lung, liver, spleen, heart brain, lymph nodes, and skin.

[0219] A liposome useful in the present invention comprises a lipid composition that is capable of fusing with the plasma membrane of the targeted cell to deliver its contents to the cell. Preferably, the transfection efficiency of a liposome is about 0.5 μg of DNA per 16 nmole of liposome delivered to about 10⁶ cells, more preferably about 1.0 μg of DNA per 16 nmole of liposome delivered to about 106 cells, and even more preferably about 2.0 μg of DNA per 16 nmol of liposome delivered to about 10⁶ cells. Preferably, a liposome is between about 100 and 500 nm, more preferably between about 150 and 450 nm, and even more preferably between about 200 and 400 nm in diameter.

[0220] Suitable liposomes for use in the present invention include those liposomes standardly used in, for example, gene delivery methods known to those of skill in the art. More preferred liposomes include liposomes having a polycationic lipid composition and/or liposomes having a cholesterol backbone conjugated to polyethylene glycol. Optionally, a liposome comprises a compound capable of targeting the liposome to a particular cell type, such as a cell-specific ligand exposed on the outer surface of the liposome.

[0221] Complexing a liposome with a reagent such as an antisense oligonucleotide or ribozyme can be achieved using methods that are standard in the art (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,151). Preferably, from about 0.1 μg to about 10 μg of polynucleotide is combined with about 8 nmol of liposomes, more preferably from about 0.5 μg to about 5 μg of polynucleotides are combined with about 8 nmol liposomes, and even more preferably about 1.0 μg of polynucleotides is combined with about 8 nmol liposomes.

[0222] In another embodiment, antibodies can be delivered to specific tissues in vivo using receptor-mediated targeted delivery. Receptor-mediated DNA delivery techniques are taught in, for example, Findeis et al. Trends in Biotechnol. 11, 202-05 (1993); Chiou et al., GENE THERAPEUTICS: METHODS AND APPLICATIONS OF DIRECT GENE TRANSFER (J. A. Wolff, ed.) (1994); Wu & Wu, J. Biol. Chem. 263, 621-24 (1988); Wu et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269, 542-46 (1994); Senko et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 3655-59 (1990); Wu et al., J. Biol. Chem. 266, 338-42 (1991).

[0223] Determination of a Therapeutically Effective Dose

[0224] The determination of a therapeutically effective dose is well within the capability of those skilled in the art. A therapeutically effective dose refers to that amount of active ingredient which increases or decreases MRP5-like protein activity relative to the MRP5-like protein activity which occurs in the absence of the therapeutically effective dose.

[0225] For any compound, the therapeutically effective dose can be estimated initially either in cell culture assays or in animal models, usually mice, rabbits, dogs, or pigs. The animal model also can be used to determine the appropriate concentration range and route of administration. Such information can then be used to determine useful doses and routes for administration in humans.

[0226] Therapeutic efficacy and toxicity, e.g., ED₅₀ (the dose therapeutically effective in 50% of the population) and LD₅₀ (the dose lethal to 50% of the population), can be determined by standard pharmaceutical procedures in cell cultures or experimental animals. The dose ratio of toxic to therapeutic effects is the therapeutic index, and it can be expressed as the ratio, LD₅₀/ED₅₀.

[0227] Pharmaceutical compositions that exhibit large therapeutic indices are preferred. The data obtained from cell culture assays and animal studies is used in formulating a range of dosage for human use. The dosage contained in such compositions is preferably within a range of circulating concentrations that include the ED₅₀ with little or no toxicity. The dosage varies within this range depending upon the dosage form employed, sensitivity of the patient, and the route of administration.

[0228] The exact dosage will be determined by the practitioner, in light of factors related to the subject that requires treatment. Dosage and administration are adjusted to provide sufficient levels of the active ingredient or to maintain the desired effect. Factors that can be taken into account include the severity of the disease state, general health of the subject, age, weight, and gender of the subject, diet, time and frequency of administration, drug combination(s), reaction sensitivities, and tolerance/response to therapy. Long-acting pharmaceutical compositions can be administered every 3 to 4 days, every week, or once every two weeks depending on the half-life and clearance rate of the particular formulation.

[0229] Normal dosage amounts can vary from 0.1 to 100,000 micrograms, up to a total dose of about 1 g, depending upon the route of administration. Guidance as to particular dosages and methods of delivery is provided in the literature and generally available to practitioners in the art. Those skilled in the art will employ different formulations for nucleotides than for proteins or their inhibitors. Similarly, delivery of polynucleotides or polypeptides will be specific to particular cells, conditions, locations, etc.

[0230] If the reagent is a single-chain antibody, polynucleotides encoding the antibody can be constructed and introduced into a cell either ex vivo or in vivo using well-established techniques including, but not limited to, transferrin-polycation-mediated DNA transfer, transfection with naked or encapsulated nucleic acids, liposome-mediated cellular fusion, intracellular transportation of DNA-coated latex beads, protoplast fusion, viral infection, electroporation, “gene gun,” and DEAE- or calcium phosphate-mediated transfection.

[0231] Effective in vivo dosages of an antibody are in the range of about 5 μg to about 50 μg/kg, about 50 μg to about 5 mg/kg, about 100 μg to about 500 μg/kg of patient body weight, and about 200 to about 250 μg/kg of patient body weight. For administration of polynucleotides encoding single-chain antibodies, effective in vivo dosages are in the range of about 100 ng to about 200 ng, 500 ng to about 50 mg, about 1 μg to about 2 mg, about 5 μg to about 500 μg, and about 20 μg to about 100 μg of DNA.

[0232] If the expression product is mRNA, the reagent is preferably an antisense oligonucleotide or a ribozyme. Polynucleotides that express antisense oligonucleotides or ribozymes can be introduced into cells by a variety of methods, as described above.

[0233] Preferably, a reagent reduces expression of an MRP5-like protein gene or the activity of an MRP5-like protein polypeptide by at least about 10, preferably about 50, more preferably about 75, 90, or 100% relative to the absence of the reagent. The effectiveness of the mechanism chosen to decrease the level of expression of an MRP5-like protein gene or the activity of an MRP5-like protein polypeptide can be assessed using methods well known in the art, such as hybridization of nucleotide probes to MRP5-like protein-specific mRNA, quantitative RT-PCR, immunologic detection of an MRP5-like protein polypeptide, or measurement of MRP5-like protein activity.

[0234] In any of the embodiments described above, any of the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention can be administered in combination with other appropriate therapeutic agents. Selection of the appropriate agents for use in combination therapy can be made by one of ordinary skill in the art, according to conventional pharmaceutical principles. The combination of therapeutic agents can act synergistically to effect the treatment or prevention of the various disorders described above. Using this approach, one may be able to achieve therapeutic efficacy with lower dosages of each agent, thus reducing the potential for adverse side effects.

[0235] Any of the therapeutic methods described above can be applied to any subject in need of such therapy, including, for example, mammals such as dogs, cats, cows, horses, rabbits, monkeys, and most preferably, humans.

[0236] Diagnostic Methods

[0237] Human MRP5-like protein also can be used in diagnostic assays for detecting diseases and abnormalities or susceptibility to diseases and abnormalities related to the presence of mutations in the nucleic acid sequences that encode the polypeptide. For example, differences can be determined between the cDNA or genomic sequence encoding MRP5-like protein in individuals afflicted with a disease and in normal individuals. If a mutation is observed in some or all of the afflicted individuals but not in normal individuals, then the mutation is likely to be the causative agent of the disease.

[0238] Sequence differences between a reference gene and a gene having mutations can be revealed by the direct DNA sequencing method. In addition, cloned DNA segments can be employed as probes to detect specific DNA segments. The sensitivity of this method is greatly enhanced when combined with PCR. For example, a sequencing primer can be used with a double-stranded PCR product or a single-stranded template molecule generated by a modified PCR. The sequence determination is performed by conventional procedures using radiolabeled nucleotides or by automatic sequencing procedures using fluorescent tags.

[0239] Genetic testing based on DNA sequence differences can be carried out by detection of alteration in electrophoretic mobility of DNA fragments in gels with or without denaturing agents. Small sequence deletions and insertions can be visualized, for example, by high resolution gel electrophoresis. DNA fragments of different sequences can be distinguished on denaturing formamide gradient gels in which the mobilities of different DNA fragments are retarded in the gel at different positions according to their specific melting or partial melting temperatures (see, e.g., Myers et al., Science 230, 1242, 1985). Sequence changes at specific locations can also be revealed by nuclease protection assays, such as RNase and S 1 protection or the chemical cleavage method (e.g., Cotton et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85, 4397-4401, 1985). Thus, the detection of a specific DNA sequence can be performed by methods such as hybridization, RNase protection, chemical cleavage, direct DNA sequencing or the use of restriction enzymes and Southern blotting of genomic DNA. In addition to direct methods such as gel-electrophoresis and DNA sequencing, mutations can also be detected by in situ analysis.

[0240] Altered levels of MRP5-like protein also can be detected in various tissues. Assays used to detect levels of the receptor polypeptides in a body sample, such as blood or a tissue biopsy, derived from a host are well known to those of skill in the art and include radioimmunoassays, competitive binding assays, Western blot analysis, and ELISA assays.

[0241] All patents and patent applications cited in this disclosure are expressly incorporated herein by reference. The above disclosure generally describes the present invention. A more complete understanding can be obtained by reference to the following specific examples which are provided for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLE 1

[0242] Detection of MRP5-Like Protein Activity

[0243] The polynucleotide of SEQ ID NO: 1 is inserted into the expression vector pCEV4 and the expression vector pCEV4-MRP5-like protein polypeptide obtained is transfected into human embryonic kidney 293 cells. These cells are incubated for 24 h at 37° C. under 5% CO2/95% air. Dilution series of 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), in 100 μl of conditioned medium are added to the cells and incubated for 5 days at 37° C. Medium is removed and cells are frozen at −80° C. Cells are thawed and the total number of cells is determined fluorimetrically by using the CyQuant Cell Proliferation Assay Kit Molecular Probes) and the CytoFluor 4000 fluorescence plate reader (PerSeptive Biosystems, Framingham, Mass.). The relative resistance is calculated as the ratio of 50% inhibition of growth (IC50) of the resistant cell line to the IC 50 of the parental cell line. It is shown that the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 2 has a MRP5-like protein activity.

EXAMPLE 2

[0244] Expression of Recombinant Human MRP5-Like Protein

[0245] The Pichia pastoris expression vector pPICZB (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.) is used to produce large quantities of recombinant human MRP5-like protein polypeptides in yeast. The MRP5-like protein-encoding DNA sequence is derived from SEQ ID NO: 1. Before insertion into vector pPICZB, the DNA sequence is modified by well known methods in such a way that it contains at its 5′-end an initiation codon and at its 3′-end an enterokinase cleavage site, a His6 reporter tag and a termination codon. Moreover, at both termini recognition sequences for restriction endonucleases are added and after digestion of the multiple cloning site of pPICZ B with the corresponding restriction enzymes the modified DNA sequence is ligated into pPICZB. This expression vector is designed for inducible expression in Pichia pastoris, driven by a yeast promoter. The resulting pPICZ/md-His6 vector is used to transform the yeast.

[0246] The yeast is cultivated under usual conditions in 5 liter shake flasks and the recombinantly produced protein isolated from the culture by affinity chromatography (Ni-NTA-Resin) in the presence of 8 M urea. The bound polypeptide is eluted with buffer, pH 3.5, and neutralized. Separation of the polypeptide from the His6 reporter tag is accomplished by site-specific proteolysis using enterokinase (Invitrogen, San Diego, Calif.) according to manufacturer's instructions. Purified human MRP5-like protein polypeptide is obtained.

EXAMPLE 3

[0247] Identification of Test Compounds that Bind to MRP5-Like Protein Polypeptides

[0248] Purified MRP5-like protein polypeptides comprising a glutathione-S-transferase protein and absorbed onto glutathione-derivatized wells of 96-well microtiter plates are contacted with test compounds from a small molecule library at pH 7.0 in a physiological buffer solution. Human MRP5-like protein polypeptides comprise the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2. The test compounds comprise a fluorescent tag. The samples are incubated for 5 minutes to one hour. Control samples are incubated in the absence of a test compound.

[0249] The buffer solution containing the test compounds is washed from the wells. Binding of a test compound to an MRP5-like protein polypeptide is detected by fluorescence measurements of the contents of the wells. A test compound that increases the fluorescence in a well by at least 15% relative to fluorescence of a well in which a test compound is not incubated is identified as a compound which binds to an MRP5-like protein polypeptide.

EXAMPLE 4

[0250] Identification of a Test Compound Which Decreases MRP5-Like Protein Gene Expression

[0251] A test compound is administered to a culture of human cells transfected with an MRP5-like protein expression construct and incubated at 37° C. for 10 to 45 minutes. A culture of the same type of cells that have not been transfected is incubated for the same time without the test compound to provide a negative control.

[0252] RNA is isolated from the two cultures as described in Chirgwin et al., Biochem. 18, 5294-99, 1979). Northern blots are prepared using 20 to 30 μg total RNA and hybridized with a ³²P-labeled MRP5-like protein-specific probe at 65° C. in Express-hyb (CLONTECH). The probe comprises at least 11 contiguous nucleotides selected from the complement of SEQ ID NO: 1. A test compound that decreases the MRP5-like protein-specific signal relative to the signal obtained in the absence of the test compound is identified as an inhibitor of MRP5-like protein gene expression.

EXAMPLE 5

[0253] Identification of a Test Compound Which Inhibits MMP5-Like Protein Activity

[0254] A test compound is administered to a culture of human cells transfected with a MMP5-like protein expression construct and incubated at 37° C. for 10 to 45 minutes. A culture of the same type of cells that have not been transfected is incubated for the same time without the test compound to provide a negative control. Transport of therapeutic agents in the presence and absence of the test compound is assessed as described in Wijnholds et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S. 97, 7476-81, 2000. Transport of cGMP in the presence and absence of the test compound is assessed as described in Jedlitchsky et al., J. Biol. Chem. 275, 30069-74, 2000.

[0255] A test compound which decreases the transport of a therapeutic agent or of cGMP relative to such transport in the absence of the test compound is identified as an inhibitor of MMP5-like protein activity.

EXAMPLE 6

[0256] Tissue-Specific Expression of MRP5-Like Protein

[0257] The qualitative expression pattern of MRP5-like protein in various tissues is determined by Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). To demonstrate that MRP5-like protein is involved in cancer, expression is determined in the following tissues: adrenal gland, bone marrow, brain, cerebellum, colon, fetal brain, fetal liver, heart, kidney, liver, lung, mammary gland, pancreas, placenta, prostate, salivary gland, skeletal muscle, small intestine, spinal cord, spleen, stomach, testis, thymus, thyroid, trachea, uterus, and peripheral blood lymphocytes. Expression in the following cancer cell lines also is determined: DU-145 (prostate), NCI-H125 (lung), HT-29 (colon), COLO-205 (colon), A-549 (lung), NCI-H460 (lung), HT-116 (colon), DLD-1 (colon), MDA-MD-231 (breast), LS174T (colon), ZF-75 (breast), MDA-MN-435 (breast), HT-1080, MCF-7 (breast), and U87. Matched pairs of malignant and normal tissue from the same patient also are tested.

[0258] To demonstrate that MRP5-like protein is involved in CNS disorders, the following tissues are screened: fetal and adult brain, muscle, heart, lung, kidney, liver, thymus, testis, colon, placenta, trachea, pancreas, kidney, gastric mucosa, colon, liver, cerebellum, skin, cortex (Alzheimer's and normal), hypothalamus, cortex, amygdala, cerebellum, hippocampus, choroid, plexus, thalamus, and spinal cord.

[0259] Quantitative expression profiling. Quantitative expression profiling is performed by the form of quantitative PCR analysis called “kinetic analysis” firstly described in Higuchi et al., BioTechnology 10, 413-17, 1992, and Higuchi et al., BioTechnology 11, 1026-30, 1993. The principle is that at any given cycle within the exponential phase of PCR, the amount of product is proportional to the initial number of template copies.

[0260] If the amplification is performed in the presence of an internally quenched fluorescent oligonucleotide (TaqMan probe) complementary to the target sequence, the probe is cleaved by the 5′-3′ endonuclease activity of Taq DNA polymerase and a fluorescent dye released in the medium (Holland et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 88, 7276-80, 1991). Because the fluorescence emission will increase in direct proportion to the amount of the specific amplified product, the exponential growth phase of PCR product can be detected and used to determine the initial template concentration (Heid et al., Genome Res. 6, 986-94, 1996, and Gibson et al., Genome Res. 6, 995-1001, 1996).

[0261] The amplification of an endogenous control can be performed to standardize the amount of sample RNA added to a reaction. In this kind of experiment, the control of choice is the 18S ribosomal RNA. Because reporter dyes with differing emission spectra are available, the target and the endogenous control can be independently quantified in the same tube if probes labeled with different dyes are used.

[0262] All “real time PCR” measurements of fluorescence are made in the ABI Prism 7700.

[0263] RNA extraction and cDNA preparation. Total RNA from the tissues listed above are used for expression quantification. RNAs labeled “from autopsy” were extracted from autoptic tissues with the TRIzol reagent (Life Technologies, MD) according to the manufacturer's protocol.

[0264] Fifty μg of each RNA were treated with DNase I for 1 hour at 37° C. in the following reaction mix: 0.2 U/μl RNase-free DNase I (Roche Diagnostics, Germany); 0.4 U/μl RNase inhibitor (PE Applied Biosystems, CA); 10 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.9; 10 mM MgCl₂; 50 mM NaCl; and 1 mM DTT.

[0265] After incubation, RNA is extracted once with I volume of phenol:chloroform:isoamyl alcohol (24:24:1) and once with chloroform, and precipitated with 1/10 volume of 3 M NaAcetate, pH5.2, and 2 volumes of ethanol.

[0266] Fifty μg of each RNA from the autoptic tissues are DNase treated with the DNA-free kit purchased from Ambion (Ambion, Tex.). After resuspension and spectrophotometric quantification, each sample is reverse transcribed with the TaqMan Reverse Transcription Reagents (PE Applied Biosystems, CA) according to the manufacturer's protocol. The final concentration of RNA in the reaction mix is 200 ng/μL. Reverse transcription is carried out with 2.5 μM of random hexamer primers.

[0267] TaqMan quantitative analysis. Specific primers and probe are designed according to the recommendations of PE Applied Biosystems; the probe can be labeled at the 5′ end FAM (6-carboxy-fluorescein) and at the 3′ end with TAMRA (6-carboxy-tetramethyl-rhodamine).

[0268] Quantification experiments are performed on 10 ng of reverse transcribed RNA from each sample. Each determination is done in triplicate. Total cDNA content is normalized with the simultaneous quantification (multiplex PCR) of the 18S ribosomal RNA using the Pre-Developed TaqMan Assay Reagents (PDAR) Control Kit (PE Applied Biosystems, CA).

[0269] The assay reaction mix is as follows: 1×final TaqMan Universal PCR Master Mix (from 2× stock) (PE Applied Biosystems, CA); 1×PDAR control-18S RNA (from 20× stock); 300 nM forward primer; 900 nM reverse primer; 200 nM probe; 10 ng cDNA; and water to 25 μl.

[0270] Each of the following steps are carried out once: pre PCR, 2 minutes at 50° C., and 10 minutes at 95° C. The following steps are carried out 40 times: denaturation, 15 seconds at 95° C., annealing/extension, 1 minute at 60° C.

[0271] The experiment is performed on an ABI Prism 7700 Sequence Detector (PE Applied Biosystems, CA). At the end of the run, fluorescence data acquired during PCR are processed as described in the ABI Prism 7700 user's manual in order to achieve better background subtraction as well as signal linearity with the starting target quantity.

EXAMPLE 7

[0272] Expression Profiling

[0273] Total cellular RNA was isolated from cells by one of two standard methods: (1) guanidine isothiocyanate/Cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation or (2) the Tri-Reagent protocol according to the manufacturer's specifications (Molecular Research Center, Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio). Total RNA prepared by the Tri-reagent protocol was treated with DNase I to remove genomic DNA contamination. RNA was prepared from coronary smooth muscle cells, brain, testis, pancreas, stomach, cerebellum, trachea, adrenal gland, skeletal muscle, salivary gland, small intestine, prostate, fetal liver, placenta, fetal brain, uterus, mammary gland, heart, spleen, lung, HeLa cells, liver, kidney, thymus, bone marrow, thyroid, colon, bladder, spinal cord, peripheral blood, liver cirrhosis, pancreas liver cirrhosis, spleen liver cirrhosis, total Alzheimer brain, fetal lung, breast tumor, colon tumor, lung tumor, HEK 293 cells, adipose, pericardium, fetal heart, thyroid tumor, MDA MB 231 cells, HEP G2 cells, HUVEC cells, fetal kidney, breast, Jurkat T-cells, Alzheimer brain cortex, cervix, esophagus, thalamus, precentral gyrus, hippocampus, occipital lobe, cerebral peduncles, postcentral gyrus, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, cerebellum (right), cerebellum (left), tonsilla cerebelli, cerebral meninges, pons, frontal lobe, cerebral cortex, corpus callosum, vermis cerebelli, Alzheimer brain frontal lobe, interventricular septum, heart atrium (right), heart atrium (left), and heart ventricle (left).

[0274] For relative quantitation of the mRNA distribution of MRP5-like protein, total RNA from each cell or tissue source was first reverse transcribed. Eighty-five μg of total RNA was reverse transcribed using 1 μmole random hexamer primers, 0.5 mM each of DATP, dCTP, dGTP, and dTTP (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany), 3000 U RnaseQut (Invitrogen, Groningen, Netherlands) in a final volume of 680 μl. The first strand synthesis buffer and Omniscript (2 U/μl) reverse transcriptase were from (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany). The reaction was incubated at 37° C. for 90 minutes and cooled on ice. The volume was adjusted to 6800 μl with water, yielding a final concentration of 12.5 ng/μl of starting RNA. For relative quantitation of the distribution of MRP5-like protein mRNA in cells and tissues the Perkin Elmer ABI Prism®. 7700 Sequence Detection system or Biorad iCycler was used according to the manufacturer's specifications and protocols. PCR reactions were set up to quantitate MRP5-like protein and the housekeeping genes HPRT, GAPDH, beta-actin, and others. Forward and reverse primers and probe were designed using the Perkin Elmer ABI Primer Express™ software and were synthesized by TibMolBiol (Berlin, Germany). The MRP5-like protein forward primer sequence was: GCAGCTGGCGTCCAGCT (SEQ ID NO: 7). The MRP5-like protein reverse primer sequence was TGCAGTATCCTCTCTACAGCCG (SEQ ID NO: 8). The fluorogenic probe, labeled with FAM as the reporter dye and TAMRA as the quencher, is CACTGCCCGGATTGGCTTGGA (SEQ ID NO: 9).

[0275] The following reactions in a final volume of 25 μl were set up: 1×TaqMan buffer A, 5.5 mM MgCl2, 200 nM each of dATP, dCTP, dGTP, and dUTP, 0.025 U/μl AmpliTaq Gold™, 0.01 U/μl AmpErase UNG® and probe 1×, MRP5-like protein forward and, reverse primers each at 200 nM, 200 nM MRP5-like protein FAM/TAMRA-labeled probe, and 5 μl of template cDNA. Thermal cycling parameters were 2 min HOLD at 50° C., 10 min HOLD at 95° C., followed by melting at 95° C. for 15 sec and annealing/extending at 60° C. for 1 min for each of 40 cycles.

[0276] Calculation of Corrected CT Values

[0277] The CT-value is calculated as described above. The CF-value is calculated as followed:

[0278] 1. PCR reactions were set up to quantitate the housekeeping genes (HKG) for each cDNA sample.

[0279] 2. CT_(HKG)-values were calculated as described above

[0280] 3. CT-mean values of all HKG for each cDNA are calculated (n=number of

[0281] (CT_(HKG1)-value+CT_(HKG2)-value+CT_(HKG-X)-value)/n=CT_(cDNA-X)-mean values (n=number of HKG)

[0282] 4. (CT_(cDNA-1)-mean value+CT_(cDNA-X)-mean value)/y=CT_(pannel)-mean value (y=number of cDNAs)

[0283] 5. CT_(pannel)-mean value —CT_(cDNA-X)-mean value=CF_(cDNA-X)

[0284] 6. CT_(cDNA-x)+CF_(cDNA-X)=CT_(cor-cDNA-X)

[0285] Calculation of relative expression

[0286] Definition: highest CT_(cor-cDNA-X)≠40 is defined as CT_(cor-cDNA-X) [high]

Relative Expression=2e(CT _(cor-cDNA-X) [high]−CT _(cor-cDNA-Y))

[0287] The results of the mRNA-quantification (expression profiling) are shown in FIGS. 11-13.

[0288] MRP5-like protein is expressed in different human tissues. The receptor is highly expressed in total Alzheimer brain, Alzheimer brain cortex, cerebral peduncles, postcentral gyrus, cerebral meninges, thyroid tumor, liver, liver (cirrhosis), HEK293 cells, mammary gland. The receptor is highly expressed in different brain tissues as total Alzheimer brain, Alzheimer brain cortex, cerebral peduncles, postcentral gyrus and cerebral meninges. The expression in the above mentioned tissues suggests an association between MRP5-like protein and peripheral and central nervous system diseases.

[0289] The receptor is highly expressed in thyroid tumor. The expression in the above mentioned tissues suggests an association between MRP5-like protein and cancer.

[0290] The receptor is highly expressed in liver, liver (liver cirrhosis), HEK293. The expression in the above mentioned tissues suggests an association between MRP5-like protein and diseases of the liver and kidney.

[0291] The receptor is highly expressed in mammary gland. The expression in the above mentioned tissues suggests an association between MRP5-like protein and diseases of secretory organs.

REFERENCES

[0292] 1. ABC transporters in lipid transport, Borst P, Zelcer N, van Helvoort A, Biochim Biophys Acta 2000 Jun. 26; 1486(1)

[0293] 2. ABC1: the gene for Tangier disease and beyond, Ordovas J M, Nutr Rev 2000 March;58(3 Pt 1):76-9

[0294] 3. Multidrug resistance, Schneider E, Paul D, Ivy P, Cowan K H, Cancer Chemother Biol Response Modif 1999;18:152-77

[0295] 4. The multidrug resistance protein 5 functions as an ATP-dependent export pump for cyclic nucleotides, Jedlitschky G, Burchell B, Keppler D, J Biol Chem. 2000 Sep. 29;275(39):30069-74.

[0296] 5. Multidrug-resistance protein 5 is a multispecific organic anion transporter able to transport nucleotide analogs, Wijnholds J, Mol C A, van Deemter L, de Haas M, Scheffer G L, Baas F, Beijnen J H, Scheper R J, Hatse S, De Clercq E, Balzarini J, Borst P, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2000 Jun. 20;97(13):7476-81.

1 10 1 4035 DNA Homo sapiens CDS (1)..(4035) 1 atg act agg aag agg aca tac tgg gtg ccc aac tct tct ggt ggc ctc 48 Met Thr Arg Lys Arg Thr Tyr Trp Val Pro Asn Ser Ser Gly Gly Leu 1 5 10 15 gtg aat cgt ggc atc gac ata ggc gat gac atg gtt tca gga ctt att 96 Val Asn Arg Gly Ile Asp Ile Gly Asp Asp Met Val Ser Gly Leu Ile 20 25 30 tat ccc ctg gac aat gct ggc ctg ttc tcc tac ctc acc gtg tca tgg 144 Tyr Pro Leu Asp Asn Ala Gly Leu Phe Ser Tyr Leu Thr Val Ser Trp 35 40 45 ctc acc ccg ctc atg atc caa agc tta cgg agt cgc tta gat gag aac 192 Leu Thr Pro Leu Met Ile Gln Ser Leu Arg Ser Arg Leu Asp Glu Asn 50 55 60 acc atc cct cca ctg tca gtc cat gat gcc tca gac aaa aat gtc caa 240 Thr Ile Pro Pro Leu Ser Val His Asp Ala Ser Asp Lys Asn Val Gln 65 70 75 80 agg ctt cac cgc ctt tgg gaa gaa gaa gtc tca agg cga ggg att gaa 288 Arg Leu His Arg Leu Trp Glu Glu Glu Val Ser Arg Arg Gly Ile Glu 85 90 95 aaa gct tca gtg ctt ctg gtg atg ctg agg ttc cag aga aca agg ttg 336 Lys Ala Ser Val Leu Leu Val Met Leu Arg Phe Gln Arg Thr Arg Leu 100 105 110 att ttc gat gca ctt ctg ggc atc tgc ttc tgc att gcc agt gta ctc 384 Ile Phe Asp Ala Leu Leu Gly Ile Cys Phe Cys Ile Ala Ser Val Leu 115 120 125 ggg cca ata ttg att ata cca aag atc ctg gaa tat tca gaa gag cag 432 Gly Pro Ile Leu Ile Ile Pro Lys Ile Leu Glu Tyr Ser Glu Glu Gln 130 135 140 ttg ggg aat gtt gtc cat gga gtg gga ctc tgc ttt gcc ctt ttt ctc 480 Leu Gly Asn Val Val His Gly Val Gly Leu Cys Phe Ala Leu Phe Leu 145 150 155 160 tcc gaa tgt gtg aag tct ctg agt ttc tcc tcc agt tgg atc atc aac 528 Ser Glu Cys Val Lys Ser Leu Ser Phe Ser Ser Ser Trp Ile Ile Asn 165 170 175 caa cgc aca gcc atc agg ttc cga gca gct gtt tcc tcc ttt gcc ttt 576 Gln Arg Thr Ala Ile Arg Phe Arg Ala Ala Val Ser Ser Phe Ala Phe 180 185 190 gag aag ctc atc caa ttt aag tct gta ata cac atc acc tca gga gag 624 Glu Lys Leu Ile Gln Phe Lys Ser Val Ile His Ile Thr Ser Gly Glu 195 200 205 gcc atc agc ttc ttc acc ggt gat gta aac tac ctg ttt gaa ggg gtg 672 Ala Ile Ser Phe Phe Thr Gly Asp Val Asn Tyr Leu Phe Glu Gly Val 210 215 220 tgc tat gga ccc cta gta ctg atc acc tgc gca tcg ctg gtc atc tgc 720 Cys Tyr Gly Pro Leu Val Leu Ile Thr Cys Ala Ser Leu Val Ile Cys 225 230 235 240 agc att tct tcc tac ttc att att gga tac act gca ttt att gcc atc 768 Ser Ile Ser Ser Tyr Phe Ile Ile Gly Tyr Thr Ala Phe Ile Ala Ile 245 250 255 tta tgc tat ctc ctg gtt ttc cca ctg gcg gta ttc atg aca aga atg 816 Leu Cys Tyr Leu Leu Val Phe Pro Leu Ala Val Phe Met Thr Arg Met 260 265 270 gct gtg aag gct cag cat cac aca tct gag gtc agc gac cag cgc atc 864 Ala Val Lys Ala Gln His His Thr Ser Glu Val Ser Asp Gln Arg Ile 275 280 285 cgt gtg acc agt gaa gtt ctc act tgc att aag ctg att aaa atg tac 912 Arg Val Thr Ser Glu Val Leu Thr Cys Ile Lys Leu Ile Lys Met Tyr 290 295 300 aca tgg gag aaa cca ttt gca aaa atc att gaa gac cta aga agg aag 960 Thr Trp Glu Lys Pro Phe Ala Lys Ile Ile Glu Asp Leu Arg Arg Lys 305 310 315 320 gaa agg aaa cta ttg gag aag tgc ggg ctt gtc cag agc ctg aca agt 1008 Glu Arg Lys Leu Leu Glu Lys Cys Gly Leu Val Gln Ser Leu Thr Ser 325 330 335 ata acc ttg ttc atc atc ccc aca gtg gcc aca gcg gtc tgg gtt ctc 1056 Ile Thr Leu Phe Ile Ile Pro Thr Val Ala Thr Ala Val Trp Val Leu 340 345 350 atc cac aca tcc tta aag ctg aaa ctc aca gcg tca atg gcc ttc agc 1104 Ile His Thr Ser Leu Lys Leu Lys Leu Thr Ala Ser Met Ala Phe Ser 355 360 365 atg ctg gcc tcc ttg aat ctc ctt cgg ctg tca gtg ttc ttt gtg cct 1152 Met Leu Ala Ser Leu Asn Leu Leu Arg Leu Ser Val Phe Phe Val Pro 370 375 380 att gca gtc aaa ggt ctc acg aat tcc aag tct gca gtg atg agg ttc 1200 Ile Ala Val Lys Gly Leu Thr Asn Ser Lys Ser Ala Val Met Arg Phe 385 390 395 400 aag aag ttt ttc ctc cag gag agc cct gtt ttc tat gtc cag aca tta 1248 Lys Lys Phe Phe Leu Gln Glu Ser Pro Val Phe Tyr Val Gln Thr Leu 405 410 415 caa gac ccc agc aaa gct ctg gtc ttt gag gag gcc acc ttg tca tgg 1296 Gln Asp Pro Ser Lys Ala Leu Val Phe Glu Glu Ala Thr Leu Ser Trp 420 425 430 caa cag acc tgt ccc ggg atc gtc aat ggg gca ctg gag ctg gag agg 1344 Gln Gln Thr Cys Pro Gly Ile Val Asn Gly Ala Leu Glu Leu Glu Arg 435 440 445 aac ggg cat gct tct gag ggg atg acc agg cct aga gat gcc ctc ggg 1392 Asn Gly His Ala Ser Glu Gly Met Thr Arg Pro Arg Asp Ala Leu Gly 450 455 460 cca gag gaa gaa ggg aac agc ctg ggc cca gag ttg cac aag atc aac 1440 Pro Glu Glu Glu Gly Asn Ser Leu Gly Pro Glu Leu His Lys Ile Asn 465 470 475 480 ctg gtg gtg gct atg ctg tcc caa cac ttg tat gtc ctc ctt ggc ttg 1488 Leu Val Val Ala Met Leu Ser Gln His Leu Tyr Val Leu Leu Gly Leu 485 490 495 cag ggg atg atg tta ggg gtc tgc ggc aac acg ggg agt ggt aag agc 1536 Gln Gly Met Met Leu Gly Val Cys Gly Asn Thr Gly Ser Gly Lys Ser 500 505 510 agc ctg ttg tca gcc atc ctg gag gag atg cac ttg ctc gag ggc tcg 1584 Ser Leu Leu Ser Ala Ile Leu Glu Glu Met His Leu Leu Glu Gly Ser 515 520 525 gtg ggg gtg cag gga agc ctg gcc tat gtc ccc cag cag gcc tgg atc 1632 Val Gly Val Gln Gly Ser Leu Ala Tyr Val Pro Gln Gln Ala Trp Ile 530 535 540 gtc agc ggg aac atc agg gag aac atc ctc atg gga ggc gca tat gac 1680 Val Ser Gly Asn Ile Arg Glu Asn Ile Leu Met Gly Gly Ala Tyr Asp 545 550 555 560 aag gcc cga tac ctc cag gtg ctc cac tgc tgc tcc ctg aat cgg gac 1728 Lys Ala Arg Tyr Leu Gln Val Leu His Cys Cys Ser Leu Asn Arg Asp 565 570 575 ctg gaa ctt ctg ccc ttt gga gac atg aca gag att gga gag cgg ggc 1776 Leu Glu Leu Leu Pro Phe Gly Asp Met Thr Glu Ile Gly Glu Arg Gly 580 585 590 ctc aac ctc tct ggg ggg cag aaa cag agg atc agc ctg gcc cgc gcc 1824 Leu Asn Leu Ser Gly Gly Gln Lys Gln Arg Ile Ser Leu Ala Arg Ala 595 600 605 gtc tat tcc gac cgt cag atc tac ctg ctg gac gac ccc ctg tct gct 1872 Val Tyr Ser Asp Arg Gln Ile Tyr Leu Leu Asp Asp Pro Leu Ser Ala 610 615 620 gtg gac gcc cac gtg ggg aag cac att ttt gag gag tgc att aag aag 1920 Val Asp Ala His Val Gly Lys His Ile Phe Glu Glu Cys Ile Lys Lys 625 630 635 640 aca ctc agg ggg aag acg gtc gtc ctg gtg acc cac cag ctg cag tac 1968 Thr Leu Arg Gly Lys Thr Val Val Leu Val Thr His Gln Leu Gln Tyr 645 650 655 tta gaa ttt tgt ggc cag atc att ttg ttg gaa aat ggg aaa atc tgt 2016 Leu Glu Phe Cys Gly Gln Ile Ile Leu Leu Glu Asn Gly Lys Ile Cys 660 665 670 gaa aat gga act cac agt gag tta atg cag aaa aag ggg aaa tat gcc 2064 Glu Asn Gly Thr His Ser Glu Leu Met Gln Lys Lys Gly Lys Tyr Ala 675 680 685 caa ctt atc cag aag atg cac aag gaa gcc act tcg gtg agt cct gcc 2112 Gln Leu Ile Gln Lys Met His Lys Glu Ala Thr Ser Val Ser Pro Ala 690 695 700 cca ctg ccc tca cta ccc acg gtg gac gca cgt gta ctc agg gcc tgt 2160 Pro Leu Pro Ser Leu Pro Thr Val Asp Ala Arg Val Leu Arg Ala Cys 705 710 715 720 gct ctc tcc cca gga cat gtt gca gga cac agc aaa gat agc aga gaa 2208 Ala Leu Ser Pro Gly His Val Ala Gly His Ser Lys Asp Ser Arg Glu 725 730 735 gcc aaa gtg ccg gag cat cag ctc aca cag gag gag gag atg gaa gaa 2256 Ala Lys Val Pro Glu His Gln Leu Thr Gln Glu Glu Glu Met Glu Glu 740 745 750 ggc tcc ttg agt tgg agg gtc tac cac cac tac atc cag gca gct gga 2304 Gly Ser Leu Ser Trp Arg Val Tyr His His Tyr Ile Gln Ala Ala Gly 755 760 765 ggt tac atg gtc tct tgc ata att ttc ttc ttc gtg gtg ctg atc gtc 2352 Gly Tyr Met Val Ser Cys Ile Ile Phe Phe Phe Val Val Leu Ile Val 770 775 780 ttc tta acg atc ttc agc ttc tgg tgg ctg agc tac tgg ttg gag cag 2400 Phe Leu Thr Ile Phe Ser Phe Trp Trp Leu Ser Tyr Trp Leu Glu Gln 785 790 795 800 ggc tcg ggg gtg agt gcc atg agc cga gag agc aat gga acc atg gca 2448 Gly Ser Gly Val Ser Ala Met Ser Arg Glu Ser Asn Gly Thr Met Ala 805 810 815 gac ctg ggc aac att gca gac aat cct caa ctg tcc ttc tac cag ctg 2496 Asp Leu Gly Asn Ile Ala Asp Asn Pro Gln Leu Ser Phe Tyr Gln Leu 820 825 830 gtg tac ggg ctc aac gcc ctg ctc ctc atc tgt gtg ggg gtc tgc tcc 2544 Val Tyr Gly Leu Asn Ala Leu Leu Leu Ile Cys Val Gly Val Cys Ser 835 840 845 tca ggg att ttc acc aaa gtc acg agg aag gca tcc acg gcc ctg cac 2592 Ser Gly Ile Phe Thr Lys Val Thr Arg Lys Ala Ser Thr Ala Leu His 850 855 860 aac aag ctc ttc aac aag gtt ttc cgc tgc ccc atg agt ttc ttt gac 2640 Asn Lys Leu Phe Asn Lys Val Phe Arg Cys Pro Met Ser Phe Phe Asp 865 870 875 880 acc atc cca ata ggc cgg ctt ttg aac tgc ttc gca ggg gac ttg gaa 2688 Thr Ile Pro Ile Gly Arg Leu Leu Asn Cys Phe Ala Gly Asp Leu Glu 885 890 895 cag ctg gac cag ctc ttg ccc atc ttt tca gag cag ttc ctg gtc ctg 2736 Gln Leu Asp Gln Leu Leu Pro Ile Phe Ser Glu Gln Phe Leu Val Leu 900 905 910 tcc tta atg gtg atc gcc gtc ctg ttg att gtc agt gtg ctg tct cca 2784 Ser Leu Met Val Ile Ala Val Leu Leu Ile Val Ser Val Leu Ser Pro 915 920 925 tat atc ctg tta atg gga gcc ata atc atg gtt att tgc ttc att tat 2832 Tyr Ile Leu Leu Met Gly Ala Ile Ile Met Val Ile Cys Phe Ile Tyr 930 935 940 tat atg atg ttc aag aag gcc atc ggt gtg ttc aag aga ctg gag aac 2880 Tyr Met Met Phe Lys Lys Ala Ile Gly Val Phe Lys Arg Leu Glu Asn 945 950 955 960 tat agc cgg tct cct tta ttc tcc cac atc ctc aat tct ctg caa ggc 2928 Tyr Ser Arg Ser Pro Leu Phe Ser His Ile Leu Asn Ser Leu Gln Gly 965 970 975 ctg agc tcc atc cat gtc tat gga aaa act gaa gac ttc atc agc cag 2976 Leu Ser Ser Ile His Val Tyr Gly Lys Thr Glu Asp Phe Ile Ser Gln 980 985 990 ttt aag agg ctg act gat gcg cag aat aac tac ctg ctg ttg ttt cta 3024 Phe Lys Arg Leu Thr Asp Ala Gln Asn Asn Tyr Leu Leu Leu Phe Leu 995 1000 1005 tct tcc aca cga tgg atg gca ttg agg ctg gag atc atg acc aac 3069 Ser Ser Thr Arg Trp Met Ala Leu Arg Leu Glu Ile Met Thr Asn 1010 1015 1020 ctt gtg acc ttg gct gtt gcc ctg ttc gtg gct ttt ggc att tcc 3114 Leu Val Thr Leu Ala Val Ala Leu Phe Val Ala Phe Gly Ile Ser 1025 1030 1035 tcc acc ccc tac tcc ttt aaa gtc atg gct gtc aac atc gtg ctg 3159 Ser Thr Pro Tyr Ser Phe Lys Val Met Ala Val Asn Ile Val Leu 1040 1045 1050 cag ctg gcg tcc agc ttc cag gcc act gcc cgg att ggc ttg gag 3204 Gln Leu Ala Ser Ser Phe Gln Ala Thr Ala Arg Ile Gly Leu Glu 1055 1060 1065 aca gag gca cag ttc acg gct gta gag agg ata ctg cag tac atg 3249 Thr Glu Ala Gln Phe Thr Ala Val Glu Arg Ile Leu Gln Tyr Met 1070 1075 1080 aag atg tgt gtc tcg gaa gct cct tta cac atg gaa ggc aca agt 3294 Lys Met Cys Val Ser Glu Ala Pro Leu His Met Glu Gly Thr Ser 1085 1090 1095 tgt ccc cag ggg tgg cca cag cat ggg gaa atc ata ttt cag gat 3339 Cys Pro Gln Gly Trp Pro Gln His Gly Glu Ile Ile Phe Gln Asp 1100 1105 1110 tat cac atg aaa tac aga gac aac aca ccc acc gtg ctt cac ggc 3384 Tyr His Met Lys Tyr Arg Asp Asn Thr Pro Thr Val Leu His Gly 1115 1120 1125 atc aac ctg acc atc cgc ggc cac gaa gtg gtg ggc atc gtg gga 3429 Ile Asn Leu Thr Ile Arg Gly His Glu Val Val Gly Ile Val Gly 1130 1135 1140 agg acg ggc tct ggg aag tcc tcc ttg ggc atg gct ctc ttc cgc 3474 Arg Thr Gly Ser Gly Lys Ser Ser Leu Gly Met Ala Leu Phe Arg 1145 1150 1155 ctg gtg gag ccc atg gca ggc cgg att ctc att gac ggc gtg gac 3519 Leu Val Glu Pro Met Ala Gly Arg Ile Leu Ile Asp Gly Val Asp 1160 1165 1170 att tgc agc atc ggc ctg gag gac ttg cgg tcc aag ctc tca gtg 3564 Ile Cys Ser Ile Gly Leu Glu Asp Leu Arg Ser Lys Leu Ser Val 1175 1180 1185 atc cct caa gat cca gtg ctg ctc tca gga acc atc aga ttc aac 3609 Ile Pro Gln Asp Pro Val Leu Leu Ser Gly Thr Ile Arg Phe Asn 1190 1195 1200 cta gat ccc ttt gac cgt cac act gac cag cag atc tgg gat gcc 3654 Leu Asp Pro Phe Asp Arg His Thr Asp Gln Gln Ile Trp Asp Ala 1205 1210 1215 ttg gag agg aca ttc ctg acc aag gcc atc tca aag ttc ccc aaa 3699 Leu Glu Arg Thr Phe Leu Thr Lys Ala Ile Ser Lys Phe Pro Lys 1220 1225 1230 aag ctg cat aca gat gtg gtg gaa aac ggt gga aac ttc tct gtg 3744 Lys Leu His Thr Asp Val Val Glu Asn Gly Gly Asn Phe Ser Val 1235 1240 1245 ggg gag agg cag ctg ctc tgc att gcc agg gct gtg ctt cgc aac 3789 Gly Glu Arg Gln Leu Leu Cys Ile Ala Arg Ala Val Leu Arg Asn 1250 1255 1260 tcc aag atc atc ctt atc gat gaa gcc aca gcc tcc att gac atg 3834 Ser Lys Ile Ile Leu Ile Asp Glu Ala Thr Ala Ser Ile Asp Met 1265 1270 1275 gag aca gac acc ctg atc cag cgc aca atc cgt gaa gcc ttc cag 3879 Glu Thr Asp Thr Leu Ile Gln Arg Thr Ile Arg Glu Ala Phe Gln 1280 1285 1290 ggc tgc acc gtg ctc gtc att gcc cac cgt gtc acc act gtg ctg 3924 Gly Cys Thr Val Leu Val Ile Ala His Arg Val Thr Thr Val Leu 1295 1300 1305 aac tgt gac cac atc ctg gtt atg ggc aat ggg aag gtg gta gaa 3969 Asn Cys Asp His Ile Leu Val Met Gly Asn Gly Lys Val Val Glu 1310 1315 1320 ttt gat cgg ccg gag gta ctg cgg aag aag cct ggg tca ttg ttc 4014 Phe Asp Arg Pro Glu Val Leu Arg Lys Lys Pro Gly Ser Leu Phe 1325 1330 1335 gca gcc ctc atg gcc aca gcc 4035 Ala Ala Leu Met Ala Thr Ala 1340 1345 2 1345 PRT Homo sapiens 2 Met Thr Arg Lys Arg Thr Tyr Trp Val Pro Asn Ser Ser Gly Gly Leu 1 5 10 15 Val Asn Arg Gly Ile Asp Ile Gly Asp Asp Met Val Ser Gly Leu Ile 20 25 30 Tyr Pro Leu Asp Asn Ala Gly Leu Phe Ser Tyr Leu Thr Val Ser Trp 35 40 45 Leu Thr Pro Leu Met Ile Gln Ser Leu Arg Ser Arg Leu Asp Glu Asn 50 55 60 Thr Ile Pro Pro Leu Ser Val His Asp Ala Ser Asp Lys Asn Val Gln 65 70 75 80 Arg Leu His Arg Leu Trp Glu Glu Glu Val Ser Arg Arg Gly Ile Glu 85 90 95 Lys Ala Ser Val Leu Leu Val Met Leu Arg Phe Gln Arg Thr Arg Leu 100 105 110 Ile Phe Asp Ala Leu Leu Gly Ile Cys Phe Cys Ile Ala Ser Val Leu 115 120 125 Gly Pro Ile Leu Ile Ile Pro Lys Ile Leu Glu Tyr Ser Glu Glu Gln 130 135 140 Leu Gly Asn Val Val His Gly Val Gly Leu Cys Phe Ala Leu Phe Leu 145 150 155 160 Ser Glu Cys Val Lys Ser Leu Ser Phe Ser Ser Ser Trp Ile Ile Asn 165 170 175 Gln Arg Thr Ala Ile Arg Phe Arg Ala Ala Val Ser Ser Phe Ala Phe 180 185 190 Glu Lys Leu Ile Gln Phe Lys Ser Val Ile His Ile Thr Ser Gly Glu 195 200 205 Ala Ile Ser Phe Phe Thr Gly Asp Val Asn Tyr Leu Phe Glu Gly Val 210 215 220 Cys Tyr Gly Pro Leu Val Leu Ile Thr Cys Ala Ser Leu Val Ile Cys 225 230 235 240 Ser Ile Ser Ser Tyr Phe Ile Ile Gly Tyr Thr Ala Phe Ile Ala Ile 245 250 255 Leu Cys Tyr Leu Leu Val Phe Pro Leu Ala Val Phe Met Thr Arg Met 260 265 270 Ala Val Lys Ala Gln His His Thr Ser Glu Val Ser Asp Gln Arg Ile 275 280 285 Arg Val Thr Ser Glu Val Leu Thr Cys Ile Lys Leu Ile Lys Met Tyr 290 295 300 Thr Trp Glu Lys Pro Phe Ala Lys Ile Ile Glu Asp Leu Arg Arg Lys 305 310 315 320 Glu Arg Lys Leu Leu Glu Lys Cys Gly Leu Val Gln Ser Leu Thr Ser 325 330 335 Ile Thr Leu Phe Ile Ile Pro Thr Val Ala Thr Ala Val Trp Val Leu 340 345 350 Ile His Thr Ser Leu Lys Leu Lys Leu Thr Ala Ser Met Ala Phe Ser 355 360 365 Met Leu Ala Ser Leu Asn Leu Leu Arg Leu Ser Val Phe Phe Val Pro 370 375 380 Ile Ala Val Lys Gly Leu Thr Asn Ser Lys Ser Ala Val Met Arg Phe 385 390 395 400 Lys Lys Phe Phe Leu Gln Glu Ser Pro Val Phe Tyr Val Gln Thr Leu 405 410 415 Gln Asp Pro Ser Lys Ala Leu Val Phe Glu Glu Ala Thr Leu Ser Trp 420 425 430 Gln Gln Thr Cys Pro Gly Ile Val Asn Gly Ala Leu Glu Leu Glu Arg 435 440 445 Asn Gly His Ala Ser Glu Gly Met Thr Arg Pro Arg Asp Ala Leu Gly 450 455 460 Pro Glu Glu Glu Gly Asn Ser Leu Gly Pro Glu Leu His Lys Ile Asn 465 470 475 480 Leu Val Val Ala Met Leu Ser Gln His Leu Tyr Val Leu Leu Gly Leu 485 490 495 Gln Gly Met Met Leu Gly Val Cys Gly Asn Thr Gly Ser Gly Lys Ser 500 505 510 Ser Leu Leu Ser Ala Ile Leu Glu Glu Met His Leu Leu Glu Gly Ser 515 520 525 Val Gly Val Gln Gly Ser Leu Ala Tyr Val Pro Gln Gln Ala Trp Ile 530 535 540 Val Ser Gly Asn Ile Arg Glu Asn Ile Leu Met Gly Gly Ala Tyr Asp 545 550 555 560 Lys Ala Arg Tyr Leu Gln Val Leu His Cys Cys Ser Leu Asn Arg Asp 565 570 575 Leu Glu Leu Leu Pro Phe Gly Asp Met Thr Glu Ile Gly Glu Arg Gly 580 585 590 Leu Asn Leu Ser Gly Gly Gln Lys Gln Arg Ile Ser Leu Ala Arg Ala 595 600 605 Val Tyr Ser Asp Arg Gln Ile Tyr Leu Leu Asp Asp Pro Leu Ser Ala 610 615 620 Val Asp Ala His Val Gly Lys His Ile Phe Glu Glu Cys Ile Lys Lys 625 630 635 640 Thr Leu Arg Gly Lys Thr Val Val Leu Val Thr His Gln Leu Gln Tyr 645 650 655 Leu Glu Phe Cys Gly Gln Ile Ile Leu Leu Glu Asn Gly Lys Ile Cys 660 665 670 Glu Asn Gly Thr His Ser Glu Leu Met Gln Lys Lys Gly Lys Tyr Ala 675 680 685 Gln Leu Ile Gln Lys Met His Lys Glu Ala Thr Ser Val Ser Pro Ala 690 695 700 Pro Leu Pro Ser Leu Pro Thr Val Asp Ala Arg Val Leu Arg Ala Cys 705 710 715 720 Ala Leu Ser Pro Gly His Val Ala Gly His Ser Lys Asp Ser Arg Glu 725 730 735 Ala Lys Val Pro Glu His Gln Leu Thr Gln Glu Glu Glu Met Glu Glu 740 745 750 Gly Ser Leu Ser Trp Arg Val Tyr His His Tyr Ile Gln Ala Ala Gly 755 760 765 Gly Tyr Met Val Ser Cys Ile Ile Phe Phe Phe Val Val Leu Ile Val 770 775 780 Phe Leu Thr Ile Phe Ser Phe Trp Trp Leu Ser Tyr Trp Leu Glu Gln 785 790 795 800 Gly Ser Gly Val Ser Ala Met Ser Arg Glu Ser Asn Gly Thr Met Ala 805 810 815 Asp Leu Gly Asn Ile Ala Asp Asn Pro Gln Leu Ser Phe Tyr Gln Leu 820 825 830 Val Tyr Gly Leu Asn Ala Leu Leu Leu Ile Cys Val Gly Val Cys Ser 835 840 845 Ser Gly Ile Phe Thr Lys Val Thr Arg Lys Ala Ser Thr Ala Leu His 850 855 860 Asn Lys Leu Phe Asn Lys Val Phe Arg Cys Pro Met Ser Phe Phe Asp 865 870 875 880 Thr Ile Pro Ile Gly Arg Leu Leu Asn Cys Phe Ala Gly Asp Leu Glu 885 890 895 Gln Leu Asp Gln Leu Leu Pro Ile Phe Ser Glu Gln Phe Leu Val Leu 900 905 910 Ser Leu Met Val Ile Ala Val Leu Leu Ile Val Ser Val Leu Ser Pro 915 920 925 Tyr Ile Leu Leu Met Gly Ala Ile Ile Met Val Ile Cys Phe Ile Tyr 930 935 940 Tyr Met Met Phe Lys Lys Ala Ile Gly Val Phe Lys Arg Leu Glu Asn 945 950 955 960 Tyr Ser Arg Ser Pro Leu Phe Ser His Ile Leu Asn Ser Leu Gln Gly 965 970 975 Leu Ser Ser Ile His Val Tyr Gly Lys Thr Glu Asp Phe Ile Ser Gln 980 985 990 Phe Lys Arg Leu Thr Asp Ala Gln Asn Asn Tyr Leu Leu Leu Phe Leu 995 1000 1005 Ser Ser Thr Arg Trp Met Ala Leu Arg Leu Glu Ile Met Thr Asn 1010 1015 1020 Leu Val Thr Leu Ala Val Ala Leu Phe Val Ala Phe Gly Ile Ser 1025 1030 1035 Ser Thr Pro Tyr Ser Phe Lys Val Met Ala Val Asn Ile Val Leu 1040 1045 1050 Gln Leu Ala Ser Ser Phe Gln Ala Thr Ala Arg Ile Gly Leu Glu 1055 1060 1065 Thr Glu Ala Gln Phe Thr Ala Val Glu Arg Ile Leu Gln Tyr Met 1070 1075 1080 Lys Met Cys Val Ser Glu Ala Pro Leu His Met Glu Gly Thr Ser 1085 1090 1095 Cys Pro Gln Gly Trp Pro Gln His Gly Glu Ile Ile Phe Gln Asp 1100 1105 1110 Tyr His Met Lys Tyr Arg Asp Asn Thr Pro Thr Val Leu His Gly 1115 1120 1125 Ile Asn Leu Thr Ile Arg Gly His Glu Val Val Gly Ile Val Gly 1130 1135 1140 Arg Thr Gly Ser Gly Lys Ser Ser Leu Gly Met Ala Leu Phe Arg 1145 1150 1155 Leu Val Glu Pro Met Ala Gly Arg Ile Leu Ile Asp Gly Val Asp 1160 1165 1170 Ile Cys Ser Ile Gly Leu Glu Asp Leu Arg Ser Lys Leu Ser Val 1175 1180 1185 Ile Pro Gln Asp Pro Val Leu Leu Ser Gly Thr Ile Arg Phe Asn 1190 1195 1200 Leu Asp Pro Phe Asp Arg His Thr Asp Gln Gln Ile Trp Asp Ala 1205 1210 1215 Leu Glu Arg Thr Phe Leu Thr Lys Ala Ile Ser Lys Phe Pro Lys 1220 1225 1230 Lys Leu His Thr Asp Val Val Glu Asn Gly Gly Asn Phe Ser Val 1235 1240 1245 Gly Glu Arg Gln Leu Leu Cys Ile Ala Arg Ala Val Leu Arg Asn 1250 1255 1260 Ser Lys Ile Ile Leu Ile Asp Glu Ala Thr Ala Ser Ile Asp Met 1265 1270 1275 Glu Thr Asp Thr Leu Ile Gln Arg Thr Ile Arg Glu Ala Phe Gln 1280 1285 1290 Gly Cys Thr Val Leu Val Ile Ala His Arg Val Thr Thr Val Leu 1295 1300 1305 Asn Cys Asp His Ile Leu Val Met Gly Asn Gly Lys Val Val Glu 1310 1315 1320 Phe Asp Arg Pro Glu Val Leu Arg Lys Lys Pro Gly Ser Leu Phe 1325 1330 1335 Ala Ala Leu Met Ala Thr Ala 1340 1345 3 1345 PRT Homo sapiens 3 Met Thr Arg Lys Arg Thr Tyr Trp Val Pro Asn Ser Ser Gly Gly Leu 1 5 10 15 Val Asn Arg Gly Ile Asp Ile Gly Asp Asp Met Val Ser Gly Leu Ile 20 25 30 Tyr Pro Leu Asp Asn Ala Gly Leu Phe Ser Tyr Leu Thr Val Ser Trp 35 40 45 Leu Thr Pro Leu Met Ile Gln Ser Leu Arg Ser Arg Leu Asp Glu Asn 50 55 60 Thr Ile Pro Pro Leu Ser Val His Asp Ala Ser Asp Lys Asn Val Gln 65 70 75 80 Arg Leu His Arg Leu Trp Glu Glu Glu Val Ser Arg Arg Gly Ile Glu 85 90 95 Lys Ala Ser Val Leu Leu Val Met Leu Arg Phe Gln Arg Thr Arg Leu 100 105 110 Ile Phe Asp Ala Leu Leu Gly Ile Cys Phe Cys Ile Ala Ser Val Leu 115 120 125 Gly Pro Ile Leu Ile Ile Pro Lys Ile Leu Glu Tyr Ser Glu Glu Gln 130 135 140 Leu Gly Asn Val Val His Gly Val Gly Leu Cys Phe Ala Leu Phe Leu 145 150 155 160 Ser Glu Cys Val Lys Ser Leu Ser Phe Ser Ser Ser Trp Ile Ile Asn 165 170 175 Gln Arg Thr Ala Ile Arg Phe Arg Ala Ala Val Ser Ser Phe Ala Phe 180 185 190 Glu Lys Leu Ile Gln Phe Lys Ser Val Ile His Ile Thr Ser Gly Glu 195 200 205 Ala Ile Ser Phe Phe Thr Gly Asp Val Asn Tyr Leu Phe Glu Gly Val 210 215 220 Cys Tyr Gly Pro Leu Val Leu Ile Thr Cys Ala Ser Leu Val Ile Cys 225 230 235 240 Ser Ile Ser Ser Tyr Phe Ile Ile Gly Tyr Thr Ala Phe Ile Ala Ile 245 250 255 Leu Cys Tyr Leu Leu Val Phe Pro Leu Ala Val Phe Met Thr Arg Met 260 265 270 Ala Val Lys Ala Gln His His Thr Ser Glu Val Ser Asp Gln Arg Ile 275 280 285 Arg Val Thr Ser Glu Val Leu Thr Cys Ile Lys Leu Ile Lys Met Tyr 290 295 300 Thr Trp Glu Lys Pro Phe Ala Lys Ile Ile Glu Asp Leu Arg Arg Lys 305 310 315 320 Glu Arg Lys Leu Leu Glu Lys Cys Gly Leu Val Gln Ser Leu Thr Ser 325 330 335 Ile Thr Leu Phe Ile Ile Pro Thr Val Ala Thr Ala Val Trp Val Leu 340 345 350 Ile His Thr Ser Leu Lys Leu Lys Leu Thr Ala Ser Met Ala Phe Ser 355 360 365 Met Leu Ala Ser Leu Asn Leu Leu Arg Leu Ser Val Phe Phe Val Pro 370 375 380 Ile Ala Val Lys Gly Leu Thr Asn Ser Lys Ser Ala Val Met Arg Phe 385 390 395 400 Lys Lys Phe Phe Leu Gln Glu Ser Pro Val Phe Tyr Val Gln Thr Leu 405 410 415 Gln Asp Pro Ser Lys Ala Leu Val Phe Glu Glu Ala Thr Leu Ser Trp 420 425 430 Gln Gln Thr Cys Pro Gly Ile Val Asn Gly Ala Leu Glu Leu Glu Arg 435 440 445 Asn Gly His Ala Ser Glu Gly Met Thr Arg Pro Arg Asp Ala Leu Gly 450 455 460 Pro Glu Glu Glu Gly Asn Ser Leu Gly Pro Glu Leu His Lys Ile Asn 465 470 475 480 Leu Val Val Ala Met Leu Ser Gln His Leu Tyr Val Leu Leu Gly Leu 485 490 495 Gln Gly Met Met Leu Gly Val Cys Gly Asn Thr Gly Ser Gly Lys Ser 500 505 510 Ser Leu Leu Ser Ala Ile Leu Glu Glu Met His Leu Leu Glu Gly Ser 515 520 525 Val Gly Val Gln Gly Ser Leu Ala Tyr Val Pro Gln Gln Ala Trp Ile 530 535 540 Val Ser Gly Asn Ile Arg Glu Asn Ile Leu Met Gly Gly Ala Tyr Asp 545 550 555 560 Lys Ala Arg Tyr Leu Gln Val Leu His Cys Cys Ser Leu Asn Arg Asp 565 570 575 Leu Glu Leu Leu Pro Phe Gly Asp Met Thr Glu Ile Gly Glu Arg Gly 580 585 590 Leu Asn Leu Ser Gly Gly Gln Lys Gln Arg Ile Ser Leu Ala Arg Ala 595 600 605 Val Tyr Ser Asp Arg Gln Ile Tyr Leu Leu Asp Asp Pro Leu Ser Ala 610 615 620 Val Asp Ala His Val Gly Lys His Ile Phe Glu Glu Cys Ile Lys Lys 625 630 635 640 Thr Leu Arg Gly Lys Thr Val Val Leu Val Thr His Gln Leu Gln Tyr 645 650 655 Leu Glu Phe Cys Gly Gln Ile Ile Leu Leu Glu Asn Gly Lys Ile Cys 660 665 670 Glu Asn Gly Thr His Ser Glu Leu Met Gln Lys Lys Gly Lys Tyr Ala 675 680 685 Gln Leu Ile Gln Lys Met His Lys Glu Ala Thr Ser Val Ser Pro Ala 690 695 700 Pro Leu Pro Ser Leu Pro Thr Val Asp Ala Arg Val Leu Arg Ala Cys 705 710 715 720 Ala Leu Ser Pro Gly His Val Ala Gly His Ser Lys Asp Ser Arg Glu 725 730 735 Ala Lys Val Pro Glu His Gln Leu Thr Gln Glu Glu Glu Met Glu Glu 740 745 750 Gly Ser Leu Ser Trp Arg Val Tyr His His Tyr Ile Gln Ala Ala Gly 755 760 765 Gly Tyr Met Val Ser Cys Ile Ile Phe Phe Phe Val Val Leu Ile Val 770 775 780 Phe Leu Thr Ile Phe Ser Phe Trp Trp Leu Ser Tyr Trp Leu Glu Gln 785 790 795 800 Gly Ser Gly Val Ser Ala Met Ser Arg Glu Ser Asn Gly Thr Met Ala 805 810 815 Asp Leu Gly Asn Ile Ala Asp Asn Pro Gln Leu Ser Phe Tyr Gln Leu 820 825 830 Val Tyr Gly Leu Asn Ala Leu Leu Leu Ile Cys Val Gly Val Cys Ser 835 840 845 Ser Gly Ile Phe Thr Lys Val Thr Arg Lys Ala Ser Thr Ala Leu His 850 855 860 Asn Lys Leu Phe Asn Lys Val Phe Arg Cys Pro Met Ser Phe Phe Asp 865 870 875 880 Thr Ile Pro Ile Gly Arg Leu Leu Asn Cys Phe Ala Gly Asp Leu Glu 885 890 895 Gln Leu Asp Gln Leu Leu Pro Ile Phe Ser Glu Gln Phe Leu Val Leu 900 905 910 Ser Leu Met Val Ile Ala Val Leu Leu Ile Val Ser Val Leu Ser Pro 915 920 925 Tyr Ile Leu Leu Met Gly Ala Ile Ile Met Val Ile Cys Phe Ile Tyr 930 935 940 Tyr Met Met Phe Lys Lys Ala Ile Gly Val Phe Lys Arg Leu Glu Asn 945 950 955 960 Tyr Ser Arg Ser Pro Leu Phe Ser His Ile Leu Asn Ser Leu Gln Gly 965 970 975 Leu Ser Ser Ile His Val Tyr Gly Lys Thr Glu Asp Phe Ile Ser Gln 980 985 990 Phe Lys Arg Leu Thr Asp Ala Gln Asn Asn Tyr Leu Leu Leu Phe Leu 995 1000 1005 Ser Ser Thr Arg Trp Met Ala Leu Arg Leu Glu Ile Met Thr Asn 1010 1015 1020 Leu Val Thr Leu Ala Val Ala Leu Phe Val Ala Phe Gly Ile Ser 1025 1030 1035 Ser Thr Pro Tyr Ser Phe Lys Val Met Ala Val Asn Ile Val Leu 1040 1045 1050 Gln Leu Ala Ser Ser Phe Gln Ala Thr Ala Arg Ile Gly Leu Glu 1055 1060 1065 Thr Glu Ala Gln Phe Thr Ala Val Glu Arg Ile Leu Gln Tyr Met 1070 1075 1080 Lys Met Cys Val Ser Glu Ala Pro Leu His Met Glu Gly Thr Ser 1085 1090 1095 Cys Pro Gln Gly Trp Pro Gln His Gly Glu Ile Ile Phe Gln Asp 1100 1105 1110 Tyr His Met Lys Tyr Arg Asp Asn Thr Pro Thr Val Leu His Gly 1115 1120 1125 Ile Asn Leu Thr Ile Arg Gly His Glu Val Val Gly Ile Val Gly 1130 1135 1140 Arg Thr Gly Ser Gly Lys Ser Ser Leu Gly Met Ala Leu Phe Arg 1145 1150 1155 Leu Val Glu Pro Met Ala Gly Arg Ile Leu Ile Asp Gly Val Asp 1160 1165 1170 Ile Cys Ser Ile Gly Leu Glu Asp Leu Arg Ser Lys Leu Ser Val 1175 1180 1185 Ile Pro Gln Asp Pro Val Leu Leu Ser Gly Thr Ile Arg Phe Asn 1190 1195 1200 Leu Asp Pro Phe Asp Arg His Thr Asp Gln Gln Ile Trp Asp Ala 1205 1210 1215 Leu Glu Arg Thr Phe Leu Thr Lys Ala Ile Ser Lys Phe Pro Lys 1220 1225 1230 Lys Leu His Thr Asp Val Val Glu Asn Gly Gly Asn Phe Ser Val 1235 1240 1245 Gly Glu Arg Gln Leu Leu Cys Ile Ala Arg Ala Val Leu Arg Asn 1250 1255 1260 Ser Lys Ile Ile Leu Ile Asp Glu Ala Thr Ala Ser Ile Asp Met 1265 1270 1275 Glu Thr Asp Thr Leu Ile Gln Arg Thr Ile Arg Glu Ala Phe Gln 1280 1285 1290 Gly Cys Thr Val Leu Val Ile Ala His Arg Val Thr Thr Val Leu 1295 1300 1305 Asn Cys Asp His Ile Leu Val Met Gly Asn Gly Lys Val Val Glu 1310 1315 1320 Phe Asp Arg Pro Glu Val Leu Arg Lys Lys Pro Gly Ser Leu Phe 1325 1330 1335 Ala Ala Leu Met Ala Thr Ala 1340 1345 4 1436 PRT Homo sapiens 4 Met Lys Asp Ile Asp Met Gly Lys Glu Tyr Ile Ile Pro Ser Pro Gly 1 5 10 15 Tyr Arg Ser Val Arg Asp Arg Ser Thr Ile Pro Gly Gln His Gly Asp 20 25 30 Arg Glu Glu Pro Arg Phe Arg Arg Thr Arg Ser Leu Glu Cys Gln Asp 35 40 45 Ala Leu Glu Thr Ala Ala Arg Val Glu Gly Leu Ser Leu Asp Ile Ser 50 55 60 Val His Ser His Leu Gln Ile Leu Asp Glu Glu His Thr Lys Gly Lys 65 70 75 80 Tyr His His Gly Leu Ser Ala Leu Lys Pro Phe Arg Thr Thr Thr Lys 85 90 95 His Gln His Pro Val Asp Asn Ala Gly Leu Phe Ser Tyr Met Thr Phe 100 105 110 Ser Trp Leu Ser Pro Leu Ala Gln Val Val His Lys Lys Gly Glu Leu 115 120 125 Leu Met Glu Asp Val Trp Pro Leu Ser Lys Tyr Glu Ser Ser Asp Val 130 135 140 Asn Cys Arg Arg Leu Glu Arg Leu Trp Gln Glu Glu Leu Asn Glu Val 145 150 155 160 Gly Pro Asp Ala Ala Ser Leu Arg Arg Val Val Trp Ile Phe Cys Arg 165 170 175 Thr Arg Leu Ile Leu Ser Ile Val Cys Leu Met Ile Thr Gln Leu Ala 180 185 190 Gly Phe Ser Gly Pro Ala Phe Val Val Lys His Leu Leu Glu Tyr Thr 195 200 205 Gln Ala Thr Glu Ser Asn Leu Gln Tyr Ser Leu Leu Leu Val Leu Gly 210 215 220 Leu Leu Leu Thr Glu Val Val Arg Ser Trp Ser Leu Ala Leu Thr Trp 225 230 235 240 Ala Leu Asn Tyr Arg Thr Gly Val Arg Leu Arg Gly Ala Val Leu Thr 245 250 255 Met Ala Phe Lys Lys Ile Leu Lys Leu Lys Asn Ile Lys Glu Lys Ser 260 265 270 Leu Gly Glu Leu Ile Asn Ile Cys Ser Asn Asp Gly Gln Arg Met Phe 275 280 285 Glu Ala Ala Ala Val Gly Ser Leu Leu Ala Gly Gly Pro Val Val Ala 290 295 300 Ile Leu Gly Met Ile Tyr Asn Val Ile Ile Leu Gly Pro Thr Gly Phe 305 310 315 320 Leu Gly Ser Ala Val Phe Ile Leu Phe Tyr Pro Ala Met Met Phe Val 325 330 335 Ser Arg Leu Thr Ala Tyr Phe Arg Arg Lys Cys Val Ala Ala Thr Asp 340 345 350 Asp Arg Val Gln Lys Met Asn Glu Val Leu Thr Tyr Ile Lys Phe Ile 355 360 365 Lys Met Tyr Ala Trp Val Lys Ala Phe Ser Gln Cys Val Gln Lys Ile 370 375 380 Arg Glu Glu Glu Arg Arg Ile Leu Glu Lys Ala Gly Tyr Phe Gln Ser 385 390 395 400 Ile Thr Val Gly Val Ala Pro Ile Val Val Val Ile Ala Ser Val Val 405 410 415 Thr Phe Ser Val His Met Thr Leu Gly Phe Asp Leu Thr Ala Ala Gln 420 425 430 Ala Phe Thr Val Val Thr Val Phe Asn Ser Met Thr Phe Ala Leu Lys 435 440 445 Val Thr Pro Phe Ser Val Lys Ser Leu Ser Glu Ala Ser Val Ala Val 450 455 460 Asp Arg Phe Lys Ser Leu Phe Leu Met Glu Glu Val His Met Ile Lys 465 470 475 480 Asn Lys Pro Ala Ser Pro His Ile Lys Ile Glu Met Lys Asn Ala Thr 485 490 495 Leu Ala Trp Asp Ser Ser His Ser Ser Thr Gln Ser Ser Pro Lys Leu 500 505 510 Thr Pro Lys Val Lys Lys Asp Lys Arg Ala Pro Lys Gly Lys Lys Glu 515 520 525 Lys Ser Arg Gln Leu Gln His Thr Glu His Gln Ala Val Leu Ala Glu 530 535 540 Gln Lys Gly His Leu Leu Leu Asp Ser Asp Glu Arg Pro Ser Pro Glu 545 550 555 560 Glu Glu Glu Gly Lys Gln Ile His Ala Gly Ser Met Arg Leu Gln Arg 565 570 575 Thr Leu Tyr Asn Ile Asp Leu Glu Ile Glu Glu Gly Lys Leu Val Gly 580 585 590 Ile Cys Gly Ser Val Gly Ser Gly Lys Thr Ser Leu Ile Ser Ala Ile 595 600 605 Leu Gly Gln Met Thr Leu Leu Glu Gly Ser Ile Ala Val Ser Gly Thr 610 615 620 Phe Ala Tyr Val Ala Gln Gln Ala Trp Ile Leu Asn Ala Thr Leu Arg 625 630 635 640 Asp Asn Ile Leu Phe Gly Lys Glu Phe Asp Glu Glu Arg Tyr Asn Ser 645 650 655 Val Leu Asn Ser Cys Cys Leu Arg Pro Asp Leu Ala Ile Leu Pro Asn 660 665 670 Ser Asp Leu Thr Glu Ile Gly Glu Arg Gly Ala Asn Leu Ser Gly Gly 675 680 685 Gln Arg Gln Arg Ile Ser Leu Ala Arg Ala Leu Tyr Ser Asp Arg Ser 690 695 700 Ile Tyr Ile Leu Asp Asp Pro Leu Ser Ala Leu Asp Ala His Val Gly 705 710 715 720 Asn His Ile Phe Asn Ser Ala Ile Arg Lys Arg Leu Lys Ser Lys Thr 725 730 735 Val Leu Phe Val Thr His Gln Leu Gln Tyr Leu Val Asp Cys Asp Glu 740 745 750 Val Ile Phe Met Lys Glu Gly Cys Ile Thr Glu Arg Gly Thr His Glu 755 760 765 Glu Leu Met Asn Leu Asn Gly Asp Tyr Ala Thr Ile Phe Asn Asn Leu 770 775 780 Leu Leu Gly Glu Thr Pro Pro Val Glu Ile Asn Ser Lys Lys Glu Ala 785 790 795 800 Ser Gly Ser Gln Lys Ser Gln Asp Lys Gly Pro Lys Pro Gly Ser Val 805 810 815 Lys Lys Glu Lys Ala Val Lys Ser Glu Glu Gly Gln Leu Val Gln Val 820 825 830 Glu Glu Lys Gly Gln Gly Ser Val Pro Trp Ser Val Tyr Trp Val Tyr 835 840 845 Ile Gln Ala Ala Gly Gly Pro Leu Ala Phe Leu Val Ile Met Val Leu 850 855 860 Phe Met Leu Asn Val Gly Ser Thr Ala Phe Ser Thr Trp Trp Leu Ser 865 870 875 880 Tyr Trp Ile Lys Gln Gly Ser Gly Asn Ser Thr Val Phe Glu Gly Asn 885 890 895 Arg Ser Ser Val Ser Asp Ser Met Arg Asp Asn Pro Phe Leu Gln Tyr 900 905 910 Tyr Ala Ser Ile Tyr Ala Leu Ser Met Ala Val Met Leu Ile Leu Lys 915 920 925 Ala Ile Arg Gly Val Val Phe Val Lys Gly Thr Leu Arg Ala Ser Ser 930 935 940 Arg Leu His Asp Glu Leu Phe Arg Arg Ile Leu Arg Ser Pro Met Lys 945 950 955 960 Phe Phe Asp Thr Thr Pro Thr Gly Arg Ile Leu Asn Arg Phe Ser Lys 965 970 975 Asp Met Asp Glu Val Asp Val Arg Leu Pro Phe Gln Ala Glu Met Phe 980 985 990 Ile Gln Asn Val Ile Leu Val Phe Phe Cys Val Gly Met Ile Ala Gly 995 1000 1005 Val Phe Pro Trp Phe Leu Val Ala Val Gly Pro Leu Leu Ile Leu 1010 1015 1020 Phe Ser Val Leu His Ile Val Ser Arg Val Leu Ile Arg Glu Leu 1025 1030 1035 Lys Arg Leu Asp Asn Ile Thr Gln Ser Pro Phe Leu Ser His Ile 1040 1045 1050 Thr Ser Ser Ile Gln Gly Leu Ala Thr Ile His Ala Tyr Asn Lys 1055 1060 1065 Arg Gln Glu Phe Leu His Arg Tyr Gln Glu Leu Leu Asp Asp Asn 1070 1075 1080 Gln Ala Pro Phe Phe Leu Phe Thr Cys Ala Met Arg Trp Leu Ala 1085 1090 1095 Val Arg Leu Asp Leu Ile Ser Ile Ala Leu Ile Thr Thr Thr Gly 1100 1105 1110 Leu Met Ile Val Leu Met His Gly Gln Ile Pro Ser Ala Tyr Ala 1115 1120 1125 Gly Leu Ala Ile Ser Tyr Ala Val Gln Leu Thr Gly Leu Phe Gln 1130 1135 1140 Phe Thr Val Arg Leu Ala Ser Glu Thr Glu Ala Arg Phe Thr Ser 1145 1150 1155 Val Glu Arg Ile Asn His Tyr Ile Lys Thr Leu Ser Leu Glu Ala 1160 1165 1170 Pro Ala Arg Ile Lys Asn Lys Ala Pro Pro His Asp Trp Pro Gln 1175 1180 1185 Glu Gly Glu Ile Thr Phe Glu Asn Ala Glu Met Arg Tyr Arg Glu 1190 1195 1200 Asn Leu Pro Leu Val Leu Lys Lys Val Ser Phe Thr Ile Lys Pro 1205 1210 1215 Lys Glu Lys Ile Gly Ile Val Gly Arg Thr Gly Ser Gly Lys Ser 1220 1225 1230 Ser Leu Gly Met Ala Leu Phe Arg Leu Val Glu Leu Ser Gly Gly 1235 1240 1245 Cys Ile Lys Ile Asp Gly Val Arg Ile Ser Asp Ile Gly Leu Ala 1250 1255 1260 Asp Leu Arg Ser Lys Leu Thr Ile Ile Pro Gln Glu Pro Val Leu 1265 1270 1275 Phe Ser Gly Thr Val Arg Ser Asn Leu Asp Pro Phe Asn Gln Tyr 1280 1285 1290 Thr Glu Glu Gln Ile Trp Asp Ala Leu Glu Arg Thr His Met Lys 1295 1300 1305 Glu Cys Ile Ala Gln Leu Pro Leu Lys Leu Glu Ser Glu Val Met 1310 1315 1320 Glu Asn Gly Asp Asn Phe Ser Val Gly Glu Arg Gln Leu Leu Cys 1325 1330 1335 Ile Ala Arg Ala Leu Leu Arg His Cys Lys Ile Leu Ile Leu Asp 1340 1345 1350 Glu Ala Thr Ala Ala Met Asp Thr Glu Thr Asp Leu Leu Ile Gln 1355 1360 1365 Glu Thr Ile Arg Glu Ala Phe Ala Asp Cys Thr Met Leu Thr Ile 1370 1375 1380 Ala His Arg Leu His Thr Val Leu Gly Ser Asp Arg Ile Met Val 1385 1390 1395 Leu Ala Gln Gly Gln Val Val Glu Phe Asp Thr Pro Ser Val Leu 1400 1405 1410 Leu Ser Asn Asp Ser Ser Arg Phe Tyr Ala Met Cys Ala Ala Ala 1415 1420 1425 Glu Asn Lys Val Ala Val Lys Gly 1430 1435 5 398 DNA Homo sapiens 5 ggtggatcat caaccaacgc gacagccatc aggttccgag cagctgtttc ctcctttgcc 60 tttgagaagc tcatccaatt taagtctgta atacacatca cctcaggaga ggccatcagc 120 ttcttcaccg gtgatgtaaa ctacctgttt gaaggggtgt gctatggacc cctagtactg 180 atcacctgcg catcgctggt catctgcagc atttcttcct acttcattat tggatacact 240 gcatttattg ccatcttatg ctatctcctg gttttcccat tggcggtatt catgacaaga 300 atggctgtga aggctcggca tcacacatct gaggtcagcg accagcgcat ccgtgtgacc 360 agtgaagttc tcacttgcat taagctgatt aaaatgta 398 6 290 DNA Homo sapiens 6 tgtggtctgg actcgctggt ggctggtagg gcacattaaa gtccctttta cctaggagag 60 cccccaaggt cctggagggc agtggggccc tgggcactgt gcctgctgag ccaggcaggc 120 tctgtccctt ggcccaattg gtcctgaggc tggactcatt ctgccgcaga tgcacttgct 180 cgagggctcg gtgggggtgc agggaagcct ggcctatgtc ccccagcagg cctggatcgt 240 cagcgggaac atcagggaga acatcctcat gggaggcgca tatgacaagg 290 7 888 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature (731)..(731) n = a, t, g, or c 7 atgacagccc aggatggtgc tttgcagcga tgtgcccttc agaaggcggc tccgcaccag 60 ctgcaggttg cgggccgagt ccacgctggt gcgcatggtg gagccgggca gcaggacgcc 120 ctcgtgggtg agcagcacgc gggaggcgac tggggatctg gatggggctc actgatgaca 180 tgctggcagc ctttcgcact gggggctgtc aaaaagagcc agacagacag ctgcccccgg 240 cctgccccgc agtcaccaaa cctcagaccc gcctccacgc ctccgcttcc ggctacgcgc 300 tacggtccgt ccccgggccc aaaagccatg gcttcgcgct gctctctagg agagcctccc 360 gaattggcag gaactgaaaa tgactaggaa gaggacatac tgggtgccca actcttctgg 420 tggcctcgtg aatcgtggca tcgacatagg cgatgacatg gtttcaggac ttatttataa 480 aacctatact ctccaaagat ggcccctgga gtcagcaaga gagacatcct gaggctccag 540 ggagggcagc tgtcccaccg tggcggaagt aatgatgcct gccttgagaa ccatgattcc 600 ctttccgtcc caagccgagg tttcctgcca cccaggccct ggacaagtgg ttgggcatgt 660 tcttcgtaac ctcaccgtgt catggtcacc ccgtcatgaa tccaaagctt acaggagtcg 720 gttagatgga ngcaaccatc cctccactgt cagggcaggg attggcctcg gaccagaatt 780 gtcagcggtt acacggcttt gagaaaaaga cgctaaggcg gggctgacac agccagccgc 840 cacggtgagc agatacacag tgtgggtctc gaagcgaggc aggacgtg 888 8 17 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature MRP5-like protein forward primer 8 gcagctggcg tccagct 17 9 22 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature MRP5-like protein reverse primer 9 tgcagtatcc tctctacagc cg 22 10 21 DNA Homo sapiens misc_feature fluorogenic probe 10 cactgcccgg attggcttgg a 21 

1. An isolated polynucleotide being selected from the group consisting of: a) a polynucleotide encoding a MRP5-like protein polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected form the group consisting of: amino acid sequences which are at least about 41% identical to the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2; and the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 b) a polynucleotide comprising the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; c) a polynucleotide which hybridizes under stringent conditions to a polynucleotide specified in (a) and (b) and encodes a MRP5-like protein polypeptide; d) a polynucleotide the sequence of which deviates from the polynucleotide sequences specified in (a) to (c) due to the degeneration of the genetic code and encodes a MRP5-like protein polypeptide; and e) a polynucleotide which represents a fragment, derivative or allelic variation of a polynucleotide sequence specified in (a) to (d) and encodes a MRP5-like protein polypeptide.
 2. An expression vector containing any polynucleotide of claim
 1. 3. A host cell containing the expression vector of claim
 2. 4. A substantially purified MRP5-like protein polypeptide encoded by a polynucleotide of claim
 1. 5. A method for producing a MRP5-like protein polypeptide, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) culturing the host cell of claim 3 under conditions suitable for the expression of the MRP5-like protein polypeptide; and b) recovering the MRP5-like protein polypeptide from the host cell culture.
 6. A method for detection of a polynucleotide encoding a MRP5-like protein polypeptide in a biological sample comprising the following steps: a) hybridizing any polynucleotide of claim 1 to a nucleic acid material of a biological sample, thereby forming a hybridization complex; and b) detecting said hybridization complex.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein before hybridization, the nucleic acid material of the biological sample is amplified.
 8. A method for the detection of a polynucleotide of claim 1 or a MRP5-like protein polypeptide of claim 4 comprising the steps of: contacting a biological sample with a reagent which specifically interacts with the polynucleotide or the MRP5-like protein polypeptide.
 9. A diagnostic kit for conducting the method of any one of claims 6 to
 8. 10. A method of screening for agents which decrease the activity of a MRP5-like protein, comprising the steps of: contacting a test compound with any MRP5-like protein polypeptide encoded by any polynucleotide of claim 1; detecting binding of the test compound to the MRP5-like protein polypeptide, wherein a test compound which binds to the polypeptide is identified as a potential therapeutic agent for decreasing the activity of a MRP5-like protein.
 11. A method of screening for agents which regulate the activity of a MRP5-like protein, comprising the steps of: contacting a test compound with a MRP5-like protein polypeptide encoded by any polynucleotide of claim 1; and detecting a MRP5-like protein activity of the polypeptide, wherein a test compound which increases the MRP5-like protein activity is identified as a potential therapeutic agent for increasing the activity of the MRP5-like protein, and wherein a test compound which decreases the MRP5-like protein activity of the polypeptide is identified as a potential therapeutic agent for decreasing the activity of the MRP5-like protein.
 12. A method of screening for agents which decrease the activity of a MRP5-like protein, comprising the steps of: contacting a test compound with any polynucleotide of claim 1 and detecting binding of the test compound to the polynucleotide, wherein a test compound which binds to the polynucleotide is identified as a potential therapeutic agent for decreasing the activity of MRP5-like protein.
 13. A method of reducing the activity of MRP5-like protein, comprising the steps of: contacting a cell with a reagent which specifically binds to any polynucleotide of claim 1 or any MRP5-like protein polypeptide of claim 4, whereby the activity of MRP5-like protein is reduced.
 14. A reagent that modulates the activity of a MRP5-like protein polypeptide or a polynucleotide wherein said reagent is identified by the method of any of the claim 10 to
 12. 15. A pharmaceutical composition, comprising: the expression vector of claim 2 or the reagent of claim 14 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 16. Use of the expression vector of claim 2 or the reagent of claim 14 in the preparation of a medicament for modulating the activity of a MRP5-like protein in a disease.
 17. Use of claim 16 wherein the disease is a cardiovascular disorder, cancer or a CNS disorder.
 18. A cDNA encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:
 2. 19. The cDNA of claim 18 which comprises SEQ ID NO:
 1. 20. The cDNA of claim 18 which consists of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 21. An expression vector comprising a polynucleotide which encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:
 2. 22. The expression vector of claim 21 wherein the polynucleotide consists of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 23. A host cell comprising an expression vector which encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:
 2. 24. The host cell of claim 23 wherein the polynucleotide consists of SEQ ID NO:
 1. 25. A purified polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:
 2. 26. The purified polypeptide of claim 25 which consists of the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:
 2. 27. A fusion protein comprising a polypeptide having the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:
 2. 28. A method of producing a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, comprising the steps of: culturing a host cell comprising an expression vector which encodes the polypeptide under conditions whereby the polypeptide is expressed; and isolating the polypeptide.
 29. The method of claim 28 wherein the expression vector comprises SEQ ID NO:
 1. 30. A method of detecting a coding sequence for a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, comprising the steps of: hybridizing a polynucleotide comprising 11 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1 to nucleic acid material of a biological sample, thereby forming a hybridization complex; and detecting the hybridization complex.
 31. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of amplifing the nucleic acid material before the step of hybridizing.
 32. A kit for detecting a coding sequence for a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, comprising: a polynucleotide comprising 11 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 1; and instructions for the method of claim
 30. 33. A method of detecting a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, comprising the steps of: contacting a biological sample with a reagent that specifically binds to the polypeptide to form a reagent-polypeptide complex; and detecting the reagent-polypeptide complex.
 34. The method of claim 33 wherein the reagent is an antibody.
 35. A kit for detecting a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, comprising: an antibody which specifically binds to the polypeptide; and instructions for the method of claim
 33. 36. A method of screening for agents which can modulate the activity of a human MRP5-like protein, comprising the steps of: contacting a test compound with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (1) amino acid sequences which are at least about 41% identical to the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and (2) the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2; and detecting binding of the test compound to the polypeptide, wherein a test compound which binds to the polypeptide is identified as a potential agent for regulating activity of the human MRP5-like protein.
 37. The method of claim 36 wherein the step of contacting is in a cell.
 38. The method of claim 36 wherein the cell is in vitro.
 39. The method of claim 36 wherein the step of contacting is in a cell-free system.
 40. The method of claim 36 wherein the polypeptide comprises a detectable label.
 41. The method of claim 36 wherein the test compound comprises a detectable label.
 42. The method of claim 36 wherein the test compound displaces a labeled ligand which is bound to the polypeptide.
 43. The method of claim 36 wherein the polypeptide is bound to a solid support.
 44. The method of claim 36 wherein the test compound is bound to a solid support.
 45. A method of screening for agents which modulate an activity of a human MRP5-like protein, comprising the steps of: contacting a test compound with a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (1) amino acid sequences which are at least about 41% identical to the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 and (2) the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2; and detecting an activity of the polypeptide, wherein a test compound which increases the activity of the polypeptide is identified as a potential agent for increasing the activity of the human MRP5-like protein, and wherein a test compound which decreases the activity of the polypeptide is identified as a potential agent for decreasing the activity of the human MRP5-like protein.
 46. The method of claim 45 wherein the step of contacting is in a cell.
 47. The method of claim 45 wherein the cell is in vitro.
 48. The method of claim 45 wherein the step of contacting is in a cell-free system.
 49. A method of screening for agents which modulate an activity of a human MRP5-like protein, comprising the steps of: contacting a test compound with a product encoded by a polynucleotide which comprises the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1; and detecting binding of the test compound to the product, wherein a test compound which binds to the product is identified as a potential agent for regulating the activity of the human MRP5-like protein.
 50. The method of claim 49 wherein the product is a polypeptide.
 51. The method of claim 49 wherein the product is RNA.
 52. A method of reducing activity of a human MRP5-like protein, comprising the step of: contacting a cell with a reagent which specifically binds to a product encoded by a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, whereby the activity of a human MRP5-like protein is reduced.
 53. The method of claim 52 wherein the product is a polypeptide.
 54. The method of claim 53 wherein the reagent is an antibody.
 55. The method of claim 52 wherein the product is RNA.
 56. The method of claim 55 wherein the reagent is an antisense oligonucleotide.
 57. The method of claim 56 wherein the reagent is a ribozyme.
 58. The method of claim 52 wherein the cell is in vitro.
 59. The method of claim 52 wherein the cell is in vivo.
 60. A pharmaceutical composition, comprising: a reagent which specifically binds to a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 61. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 60 wherein the reagent is an antibody.
 62. A pharmaceutical composition, comprising: a reagent which specifically binds to a product of a polynucleotide comprising the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 63. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 62 wherein the reagent is a ribozyme.
 64. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 62 wherein the reagent is an antisense oligonucleotide.
 65. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 62 wherein the reagent is an antibody.
 66. A pharmaceutical composition, comprising: an expression vector encoding a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2; and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 67. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 66 wherein the expression vector comprises SEQ ID NO:
 1. 68. A method of treating a MRP5-like protein dysfunction related disease, wherein the disease is selected from a cardiovascular disorder, cancer or a CNS disorder comprising the step of: administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective dose of a reagent that modulates a function of a human MRP5-like protein, whereby symptoms of the MRP5-like protein disfunction related disease are ameliorated.
 69. The method of claim 68 wherein the reagent is identified by the method of claim
 36. 70. The method of claim 68 wherein the reagent is identified by the method of claim
 45. 71. The method of claim 68 wherein the reagent is identified by the method of claim
 49. 